Also from the publishers of

World Soccer Presents

Digital format only Digital format only

As Messi mania swept This special edition A collection of interviews Coinciding with its 60th The greatest coach of all
football, we were there showcases some of the including Kaka, Ronaldo, anniversary, we chronicled time or a flawed genius?
every step of the way to biggest rivalries in football Cruyff, Sacchi, Xavi, Pele, the history of the Euros You decide after reading
track Leo’s epic journey. from across the globe. Klinsmann and Wenger. – from 1960 to 2020. this dedication to Pep.

Digital format only Digital format only Digital format only

We assess the most CR7’s incredible journey Celebrating the history of Nostalgic reads on Henry, An anthology of the latter
famous teams the world from young starlet to all- our award winners, such as Owen, Juninho, Shearer, era of the Prem, including
has ever seen, and explain time top scorer in men’s Platini, Maradona, Zidane, Cantona, Bergkamp, Manchester City’s rise and
what made them so iconic. international football. Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. Beckham and more. Leicester’s shock title win.

Print Digital
£7.99 £6.99

Digital format only Digital format only Digital format only

A look at the European A record of the finals, A definitive history of the

Cup years (1955-1992) teams and players from World Cup finals, looking
and the iconic stars that the Champions League back at every tournament
graced the tournament. era (1992-2022). between 1930 and 2018.
Merchandise

SAVE when you

spend £25
10% or more
£15 £15 £15 £10.95 VOUCHERCODE:
WSCSHOP24
Spain ’82 T-Shirt Mexico ’86 T-Shirt Italia ’90 T-Shirt Binder

shop.kelsey.co.uk/WSC24
+44 (0) 1959 543 747
Offers subject to availability. Prices for goods delivered to destinations outside of the UK may be higher
 October 2024

20
IN THIS ISSUE… THE WORLD THIS MONTH
People in the news...on and off the pitch
In a footballing landscape resistant to change, 4 In pictures
the introduction of a new UEFA Champions League 12 Henry Winter The voice of football
format has inevitably invited scepticism. Yet it is 14 Keir Radnedge Ballon d’Or
worth giving the new format a chance. UEFA’s last 16 Jonathan Wilson Madrid’s Mbappe muddle
major tweak to the club game was the introduction 17 On the radar South American newcomers
of the Conference League – which, like the Europa 18 Biggest summer transfers
League, has also undergone a makeover this year 19 The month in numbers
– and that competition has already given plenty of 20 Obituaries Sol Bamba & Ron Yeats
sides a rare moment in the spotlight 24
and this year will be no different. HEADLINERS
In this issue, we’ve got everything 22 FC Noah
you need to know about the three 23 Larne & The New Saints
tournaments, plus plenty more. 24 Saud Abdulhamid
25 Jamal Lewis & Luis Suarez
Jamie Evans, Managing Editor
EYEWITNESS
26 Greece
30 Sweden
FEATURES
2024-25 UEFA COMPETITIONS
34 Champions League preview 60
Features, team profiles & fixtures
56 Europa League preview
58 Conference League preview
SPOTLIGHT
60 Angel Gomes
72 York United
FACE TO FACE
64 Harry Kane
68 Ashley Westwood
79
LEAGUE FOCUS
76 Colombia

30 Remembering Sven WOMEN’S FOOTBALL

78 2024-25 European season preview
Henry Winter’s touching tribute to Sven-Goran Eriksson 79 Alex Morgan farewell
MY BIGGEST GAME
98 Martijn Reuser

Follow World Soccer online

FOOTBALL 24-7 SAVE

MONEY ON

Exclusive
subscription
offer
See page 10
34 UEFA Champions League
Follow @wo
o rl d s o c c e r m a g Like World Soccer Magazine
Essential guide to the revamped 2024-25 campaign

84 2024 Leagues Cup

Egypt: Egyptian Premier League

2026 World Cup qualifiers

Exclusive reports from our worldwide Papua New Guinea

network of correspondents

P L U S 90 Results, tables, fixtures

WORLD SOCCER 3
THE WORLD THIS MONTH

The global game caught on camera

4 WORLD SOCCER
 England…Wembley pays tribute to
the late Sven-Goran Eriksson before
England’s UEFA Nations League clash
against Finland (obituary on page 20
and special tribute on page 30)

WORLD SOCCER 5
THE WORLD THIS MONTH

Montenegro…Craig Bellamy
is drenched on the touchline
whilst overseeing his first
victory as Wales manager

Czech Republic…Lille’s Thomas

Meunier celebrates after his
team see off Slavia Prague in
qualifying for the Champions
League (full preview on page 34)

England…Erling Haaland
takes home another match
ball after scoring his eighth
Premier League hat-trick
in only his 69th game

6 WORLD SOCCER
 IN PICTURES

Republic of Ireland…
England’s Jack Grealish
celebrates in Dublin
after scoring against the
country he’d previously
represented at youth level

Spain…Las Palmas’
Scott McKenna tries to
slow down Real Madrid’s
Kylian Mbappe during
their La Liga clash

Netherlands…Ajax’s 40-year-old
keeper Remko Pasveer saves during
his side’s epic penalty-shootout win
over Panathinaikos in Europa League
qualifying (full preview on page 56)

WORLD SOCCER 7
THE WORLD THIS MONTH

United States…Columbus Colombia…Colo-Colo

Crew’s Jacen Russell-Rowe midfielder Arturo Vidal
celebrates scoring v LAFC celebrates after helping
in the final of the Leagues his team reach the Copa
Cup (more on page 82) Libertadores quarter-
finals for the first time
since 2018, edging out
Junior of Barranquilla

Uruguay…Celeste fans pay

tribute to Luis Suarez during
his last-ever international
before retiring from national
team duty (more on page 25)

8 WORLD SOCCER
 IN PICTURES

South Africa…Uganda striker

Denis Omedi scores with a
thumping long-range effort
in his country’s AFCON 2025
qualifier against South Africa

Vietnam…Russia’s Ivan
Oblyakov and Vietnam’s
Nguyen Hai Long vie for
the ball during a friendly.
The Russian national
team is currently banned
from competitive action

South Korea…Palestine
goalkeeper Rami Hamada
celebrates after keeping a
clean sheet in his team’s shock
0-0 draw with South Korea in
2026 World Cup qualifying

WORLD SOCCER 9
Delivery
available Don’t miss this special offer…
in every • Never miss an issue with delivery direct to your door
• Big savings – save up to £51 on the full price*
country • Receive both the print and digital editions
• You’ll also receive the World Soccer e-newsletter
STAY INFORMED
STAY INSPIRED.
Receive
both print
and digital
editions

3 EASY WAYS TO SUBSCRIBE:

1 VISIT shop.kelsey.co.uk/WSC724
2 CALL 01959 543 747 QUOTE CODE WSC724
3 SCAN THE QR CODE
Calls charged at your standard network rate. Lines are open 8.30am-5pm Monday to Friday.
Terms & Conditions: *Savings are based on the standard cover price of £5.99 plus postage and packaging. Overseas discounts are calculated on the standard cover price plus postage. Your subscription
will start with the next available issue, and you will receive 13 issues in a year. Offer ends November 30, 2024. Prices correct at the time of printing and are subject to change. For full terms and conditions visit
shop.kelsey.co.uk/terms. Data protection: We take great care in handling your personal details; these will only ever be used as set out in our privacy policy, which can be viewed at shop.kelsey.co.uk/privacy-policy.
We will only contact you about our special offers via the preferences you have indicated, and you can update these at any time by emailing us at cs@kelsey.co.uk or by calling us on 01959 543 747.
You may unsubscribe at any time. If you decide to cancel your subscription, we will put a stop to any further payments being taken and will send the remaining issues that you have already paid for.
THE WORLD THIS MONTH

Henry
WINTER
THE VOICE OF FOOTBALL

The underappreciated Ashley Cole is a big asset for England

In all my 30+ years covering Facchetti and Ruud Krol, but Key coach… in the Team of the Tournament – and
Ashley Cole
England, the player who performed certainly leading the next wave. assisted Lee the 2006 World Cup. Their meetings
at the most consistently high level He played in three World Cups Carsley in in the Premier League were also epic,
was Ashley Cole and yet he is rarely and two European Championships. September once leaving the Manchester United
celebrated as one of his country’s No full-back edged duels with winger sitting by the touchline,
greatest. It was really only when Cole Cristiano Ronaldo as Cole did at recipient of another pickpocketing
(and Frank Lampard) were involved Euro 2004 – where he was named of possession by the Chelsea player,
in the Wembley honouring of Harry and signalling to be taken off. At Old
Kane joining England’s 100 club
in September that many people
ENGLAND’S Trafford in 2006, Cole even gestured
he had Ronaldo in his pocket.
realised that Cole was himself 100 CLUB Cole was the ultimate modern
a centurion and sixth on the full-back, a master of timing when
list of appearance makers. Peter Shilton 125 ca s tackling and a flier when racing
Placed between Sir Bobby Wayne Rooney 120 caps forward. His acrobatic clearances
Charlton and Bobby Moore, David Beckham 115 ca s off the line embodied his athleticism
Cole walks with giants. Anyone Steven Gerrard 114 caps and total determination to protect
compiling an all-time England or Bobb Moore 108 ca s the goal, especially in 2012 en
Premier League XI would include Ashley Cole 107 caps route to the Champions League final.
him at left-back. He’s up with the Bobb Charlton 106 ca s Napoli’s Christian Maggio was already
best left-backs of all time, perhaps Frank Lampard 106 caps celebrating when Cole hooked the ball
not in the top echelon with Paolo Bill Wri ht 105 ca s away. Barcelona’s Lionel Messi looked
Maldini, Roberto Carlos, Nilton Harry Kane 100 caps bemused when Cole slid in to steer
Santos, Paul Breitner, Giacinto away Cesc Fabregas’ goal-bound shot.

12 WORLD SOCCER
 GLOBAL FOOTBALL INTELLIGENCE

He’s now earning strong reviews

for his coaching. He certainly enjoyed
good guides himself as he ascended
the heights. Nurtured by Arsene
Wenger, he developed even more
under Jose Mourinho and Carlo
Ancelotti. They got the best out
of him, whether challenging him or
coaching him, and the 43-year-old
now applies those skills to the next
generation. His one-on-one tuition
work with Fikayo Tomori at Derby
County and Levi Colwill with the
England Under-21s has been lauded.
Now assisting Lee Carsley with the
seniors, stepping down from a role with
Consistent performer… Birmingham City to take a full-time job
Cole was named in the with the FA, Cole presented England’s
Euro 2004 Team of
the Tournament
two recent debut-makers, Morgan
Gibbs-White and Angel Gomes, with
Cole never fully received the of the emerging Luke Shaw. their first caps. Their appreciation of
respect he deserved with England. Cole’s contribution over 13 years the honour was deepened by the
Fans didn’t warm to him. Too greedy, was recognised but not with a huge identity of the man handing the caps.
too self-absorbed and a bit flash, said fanfare on his retirement. He’d long Cole made them realise even more
his critics. Many England fans follow fallen out with the media because of what representing England meant. He
lower-league clubs and have an what he considered unfair coverage praised the hard work they put in on
inherent scepticism about elite and intrusion into his private life. I their journeys, the pride they should
clubs, especially Chelsea. Cole had tried to organise a rapprochement via take and to continue on upwards.
infamously complained about the Ray Wilkins, coaching him at Chelsea “People don’t understand the sacrifice
level of Arsenal’s contract offer as
a reason behind eventually moving
to Chelsea. “When I heard [agent]
Placed between Sir Bobby Charlton and Bobby
Jonathan Barnett repeat the figure Moore, Cole walks with giants. Anyone compiling
of £55k, I nearly swerved off the
road,” he wrote in his 2006 an all-time England or Premier League XI
autobiography My Defence. would include him at left-back
He actually adds in the book
that it wasn’t about the money, it at the time, but a planned coffee fell you have made, as a little kid, on the
was more about respect. But the through amidst a flurry of headlines streets we played on, you have worked
hare was running and the headlines after he accidentally shot an intern really hard for this,” he said to Gibbs-
forming. Plus, he’d split with the nation’s at Cobham, Chelsea’s training ground. White, before telling Gomes: “If there
sweetheart, the popular singer Cheryl Yet when a group of us came to help was one player that I really, really
Tweedy. He was booed at Wembley out his Pro Licence media training at hoped would get this cap it is you.”
for a mistake against Kazakhstan and St George’s Park, and we set up a It remains to be seen whether
yet he continued reporting for duty, mock interview with the scenario of he wants the politics and public
ignoring the abusers, until retiring him as a manager being tapped demands of management, but as a
before the 2014 World Cup as he up by Chelsea, Cole found it coach, and an inspiration to players,
didn’t want to stand in the way funny and finally opened up. Ashley Cole is a winner again.

The hidden depths of Big Dunc Finally...

My perception of Duncan Ferguson publicised falling-out with the The most significant fixture of the
the footballer was all elbows, headers Scottish FA. Scotland would have English season, certainly the most
and hernias – and trouble off the pitch. had more of a cutting edge against long awaited, has at last kicked off:
Reality differs from reputation. Having England at Euro ’96 and Brazil at the Premier League v Manchester
spent time with Ferguson helping France ’98. Ferguson spoke last City. The truth over whether City
him ghost his life story, I quickly year of his Scotland boycott as breached 115 financial charges, which
appreciated the humour, humanity his “biggest football regret”. they deny, will soon emerge, but one
and depth of the man. Having also Ferguson’s exile made me truth is already established: the delay
reviewed old Everton matches of reflect on Ben White’s decision to has brought the game into disrepute,
Big Dunc…
his, I was reminded of the deftness snub England, a decision that should Ferguson is
deepened tribal tensions between
as well as power in that left foot. be respected but also seems a pity. now in charge clubs, and made the world’s most
It was a crying shame that Whatever the differing causes, regret of Inverness high-profile professional league look
Ferguson played only seven times Caledonian
is an emotion that White might amateurish. Football is about players
Thistle
for Scotland because of a much- eventually himself feel. and supporters, not barristers.

WORLD SOCCER 13
THE WORLD THIS MONTH

Keir
RADNEDGE
THE INSIDER

The Golden Ball

The history of the Ballon d’Or
Either by design or happy coincidence,
the nominees for the 2024 Ballon
d’Or were announced by UEFA and
French publisher Groupe Amaury on
the precise 69th anniversary of the
first match in what was the European
Champions Cup between Sporting
and Partizan Belgrade. A golden
thread runs all the way from one
event to the other.
On September 4, 1955, the
first goal was scored by Sporting’s
Joao Baptista Martins in front of a
30,000-strong crowd in the Estadio
Nacional during a tempestuous 3-3
draw. Partizan won the return 5-2
and went through on aggregate.
Coincidentally, neither club were
national champions; entries in that
inaugural season were by invitation.
The genesis of what is now the
Champions League bears exploration.
In December 1954 Gabriel Hanot,
the old French international who’d
become football editor of L’Equipe,
was outraged by an English newspaper
headline that proclaimed: “Wolves,
champions of the world,” after a outcome changed the face Prestigious…France the opening of the award to all
midweek floodlit friendly win over of football. To capitalise and to Football’s Ballon footballers playing in Europe.
d’Or trophy
the Honved of Ferenc Puskas. promote, L’Equipe’s weekly sister FIFA had already jumped on
Hanot returned to Paris, wrote magazine, France Football, created the bandwagon in 1990-91 with its
a critical diatribe, and suggested a prize for the European Footballer own World Player of the Year gong.
that justification of such arrogance of the Year: the Ballon d’Or. This France Football met the competition
should be competitively tested. He set was an innovation: individual awards by dropping the “European Footballer
colleague Jacques Ferran to come up were rare, with the Footballer of the of the Year” idea and promoting the
with the answer. Ferran duly obliged, Year award created in 1948 by the prize, the Ballon d’Or, itself. In 2010,
on four simple sheets of paper. fledgling English Football Writers’ they even joined forces to create the
Nowadays the creation of a new Association a trailblazer. FIFA Ballon d’Or, but neither enjoyed
competition demands years of market The first winner of both was Stanley sharing the limelight. Hence, FIFA
and Amaury (publisher of France
To promote the European Cup, France Football and L’Equipe) went their
separate ways again from 2016.
Football created a prize for the European UEFA, under the presidency of
Footballer of the Year: the Ballon d’Or former triple winner Michel Platini,
sought to reprise the European
research, financial planning, media Matthews. The European Footballer Footballer of the Year prize but
outreach, sponsorship negotiation of the Year swiftly evolved in status without a similar cachet. Thus,
and formal launch complete with and popularity to match the club UEFA has now thrown in its lot
logo, design, colouration and musical game’s burgeoning internationalisation. with Amaury, starting this year.
theme. Back then, L’Equipe needed a In 1995, France Football desperately A constant, incidentally, since
mere nine months between concept wanted to reward Paris Saint-Germain’s 1982 has been the World Soccer
and kick-off. George Weah; the trouble was that he World Player of the Year accolade.
It’s not hyperbole to say that the was Liberian, not European, hence No perpetual rebranding or identity

14 WORLD SOCCER
 GLOBAL FOOTBALL INTELLIGENCE

BOOKS
THIS
MONTH

insecurity, just what it always has been. Mbappe. France’s captain may agents. Most stars, politely, smile for
The truth is that football’s popularity surpass them one year but his last the cameras while harbouring mixed
and continual pressure to come up season with Paris Saint-Germain was emotions. Far preferable, after all,
with vehicles for corporate promotion personally fraught and his European to win the World Cup or European
has stuffed the game over-full of Championship was a nightmare. Championship or Copa America
awards of one sort or another. This is High-profile awards are all happy rather than individual honours. BRIAN MOORE
SAVED OUR SUNDAYS
fun on a fan level, but every new prize grist to the negotiating mill for players’
By Matt Eastley
diminishes the value of all the rest. In WHATEVER HAPPENED (Pitch Publishing, £14.99)
addition, no international tournament TO POMO?
is now complete without its Golden 2024 Ballon The death of Charles Hughes, at 91, Brian Moore Saved Our
Ball plus Golden Shoe plus Golden d’Or nominees went largely unnoticed in the wider Sundays is a nostalgic
romp through the
Glove. No Golden VAR yet but who football world. But Hughes was once golden age of regional
knows what the future may bring? Jude Bellingham one of the most controversial men in televised football when
Take this year’s Ballon d’Or prize list (England & Real Madrid) the English game during his 20-year the voices of Brian
as an example. It features the Men’s Hakan Calhanoglu reign as the FA’s director of coaching. Moore, Hugh Johns,
Ballon d’Or, Women’s Ballon d’Or, (Turkey & Internazionale) Cause of the opprobrium heaped Gerald Sinstadt, Gerry
Kopa Trophy (best Under-21 player), Dani Carvajal (Spain & Real Madrid) upon him by much of the media was Harrison and others
Ruben Dias narrated football
Yashin Trophy (best goalkeeper), one casual observation that Brazil highlights on tailor-
Gerd Muller Trophy (top scorer of the (Portugal & Manchester City) “have nothing to teach us.” Hughes’ made shows from
previous season), Men’s Club of the Artem Dovbyk (Ukraine & Roma) reasoning was based on a deduction, around the country.
Year Trophy and Women’s Club of the Phil Foden from watching hundreds of hours of This book is packed
(England & Manchester City) with interviews and
Year Trophy. Tacked on to stretch out videos, about the value of swift forward
Alex Grimaldo riveting anecdotes,
the ceremony in Paris on October 28 play towards POMO – the “position
(Spain & Bayer Leverkusen) including memories
are trophies for Men’s Coach of the Erling Haaland
of maximum opportunities.” In fact, of golden goals, fun-
Year and Women’s Coach of the Year. (Norway & Manchester City) Hughes was an advocate of high- spots, theme tunes
FIFA’s own The Best awards features Mats Hummels (Germany & Roma) tempo football and high pressing and and viewers’ letters.
a similar cast a yard long. Harry Kane a critic of possession for its own sake.
This year’s Men’s Ballon d’Or (England & Bayern Munich) His theories also drew on the
shortlist boasts 30 nominees signalling Toni Kroos analytical work of Wing Commander
a significant changing of the guard. (Germany & Real Madrid) Charles Reep whose association
Out are Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ademola Lookman with Wolves’ long-ball game under
Ronaldo, both absent for the first (Nigeria & Atalanta) Stan Cullis in the late 1950s was
time since 2003 (when Czech Emiliano Martinez anathema to later generations of
playmaker Pavel Nedved was (Argentina & Aston Villa) football sophisticates. “Data”, back
crowned). Ronaldo, in his self- Lautaro Martinez then, was a dirty word. Hughes
imposed golden exile in Saudi Arabia (Argentina & Internazionale) must have been amused to see
with Al Nassr, was already missing Kylian Mbappe (France & Real Madrid) its transition into the altar at which LIONS IN THE
Martin Odegaard (Norway & Arsenal) WILDERNESS
last year, when his old Argentinian today’s coaches and pundits worship.
Dani Olmo (Spain & Barcelona) By Clive Hetherington
rival carried off the trophy for a and Joe Hetherington
record-extending eighth time. For Cole Palmer (England & Chelsea)
(Pitch Publishing, £18.99)
Messi, not even captaining Argentina Declan Rice (England & Arsenal)
to the Copa America was sufficient Rodri (Spain & Manchester City) Lions in the Wilderness
Antonio Rudiger traces the travails of the
to keep him in contention. He was England team during the
(Germany & Real Madrid)
also absent in 2022. ’70s, a decade that saw
Bukayo Saka (England & Arsenal)
Other notable absentees include the end of their reign
William Saliba (France & Arsenal)
Kevin De Bruyne, Mohamed Salah, as world champions,
Federico Valverde momentous managerial
Luka Modric, Rodrygo, Virgil van Dijk, (Uruguay & Real Madrid)
Robert Lewandowski and Angel upheavals and the
Vinicius Junior (Brazil & Real Madrid) Three Lions’ failure
Di Maria. A further, perhaps more Vitinha to appear in another
surprising absentee after his Euro (Portugal & Paris Saint-Germain) major finals until 1980.
2024 showing, is Jamal Musiala. Nico Williams (Spain & Athletic Club) On the plus side, there
Early favourites are Real Madrid’s Florian Wirtz was growing recognition
Vinicius Junior and Manchester City’s (Germany & Bayer Leverkusen) of black players, with
Rodri for their various prize-winning many starting to break
Granit Xhaka
down the barriers to
efforts. Vini’s Real Madrid team-mate (Switzerland & Bayer Leverkusen) force their way into
Jude Bellingham has his supporters Lamine Yamal (Spain & Barcelona) the England ranks.
but less so their new pal Kylian FA director of coaching…Charles Hughes

WORLD SOCCER 15
THE WORLD THIS MONTH

Jonathan
WILSON
TECHNICALLY SPEAKING

Real Madrid’s Mbappe muddle

With so many attacking players to choose from, the European champions have a riddle to solve
Football is not such an easy
game as many seem to think.
Take a very good team and add a
very good player and the result is not
necessarily an even better team. The
European champions Real Madrid
bought Kylian Mbappe and Endrick
this summer and yet they went into
the September international break
four points behind Barcelona.
There’s no reason to panic.
Madrid are good enough and
Barcelona chaotic enough that Real
will probably still consider themselves
favourites to defend their title. They
have already won the UEFA Super
Cup this season and while draws away
to Mallorca and Las Palmas are less
than ideal, they’re not disasters. But
equally, there will be a recognition
that Madrid have to improve on their
performances in the first five games
of the season.
Part of the problem is that the
forward line that fired them to a Rodrygo scored Madrid’s goal Left-wing clash… Tchouameni. The muscular injury
how do Mbappe
Champions League and La Liga in their 1-1 draw at Mallorca. The and Vinicius Junior
suffered by the England man has
double last season was extremely following day, his social media sent play together? interrupted that but the evidence of
well-balanced. Jude Bellingham out a not especially veiled message: the game at Mallorca was worrying.
would drop deep from a central “Last week, they talked about the trio Cameras picked up Bellingham
saying to his team-mates: “You three,
Kylian Mbappe is at his best coming in from we need to finish the attack, because
the running back…is f****** hard.”
the left; how can he play with Vinicius Junior Mbappe, apparently agreeing,
who likes to do the same? replied: “That’s what I’m saying.
We have to finish with something.”
position, which created space for Bellingham, Mbappe and Vini, but to To which Bellingham said: “Yeah,
Vinicius Junior from the left and this acronym we will have to add the
Rodrygo from the right to swoop R for Rodrygo.” It was quickly deleted, Balance required...
into. That balance has now gone. and local media have reported that the Rodrygo naturally
Even accepting that Endrick is, at message was put out by the player’s favours the right
18, largely there for the experience communications team not Rodrygo
at the moment, there is a surfeit himself, but the message was clear.
of forwards. Mbappe is at his best Carlo Ancelotti started Rodrygo
coming in from the left; how can in all of those first five games other
he play with Vinicius who likes to than the draw at Las Palmas, when
do the same? Even if Mbappe starts Brahim Diaz played on the right.
centrally, they both want to be cutting The evidence of the Super Cup
inside onto their right foot. Rodrygo win over Atalanta and the opening
is probably the most expendable of game of the season is that the Italian
last season’s front three – at least coach envisaged a Rodrygo, Mbappe,
in terms of celebrity – but he is the Vinicius front three with Bellingham
only senior forward in the squad to the left of a midfield three with
who naturally favours the right. Federico Valverde and Aurelien

16 WORLD SOCCER
 GLOBAL FOOTBALL INTELLIGENCE

On the
RADAR
even…create a yard and [shoot].”
It’s an intriguing exchange for a
number of reasons. Bellingham clearly
felt tired, which is understandable
enough after the year he’s had, but
also played into the claims last season
that the reason he had been moved
to the forward line was because he
wasn’t fit enough to handle playing in
midfield. More specifically, that is not
a front three much given to pressing
or tracking. That restricts how Madrid
can play – to an extent, they’re used
Jeremia RECOBA
to that – but it also leaves them (Nacional, Uruguay)
vulnerable; if the running is hard
against Mallorca, it’s going to be The son of Alvaro Recoba, the left-footed
a lot harder in the latter stages forward who scored 11 goals in 69 games
of the Champions League. for Uruguay and won two Serie A titles with
Against Real Valladolid and Las Inter, Jeremia has a big name to live up to.
Palmas, the shape was more of a Any hopes he may have had of avoiding
4-2-3-1, with Arda Guler and, later, comparisons with his old man were rendered
Luka Modric playing effectively as impossible by the fact that it was Recoba senior
a number ten. Against Real Betis, who gave the youngster his professional debut. Tiago CABALLERO
it was back to a 4-3-3 with Dani After Alvaro was promoted from Nacional’s (Nacional, Paraguay)
Ceballos in the Bellingham role on reserves to manage the first team in February, Rangy 19-year-old striker who showed much
the left of the midfield three. None father and son made their debuts in the same promise as an impact substitute off the bench
of it looked especially impressive; game. The fact that Jeremia has continued to in his debut campaign, and was placed on
it all felt laboured. The positive is play a key role in the team despite Alvaro being standby for the Paris Olympics this summer.
that in those first five games Madrid sacked in July indicates that this was a fully
conceded only twice, which perhaps deserved ascension to first-team football Maxloren CASTRO
suggests that they are nowhere near rather than a case of nepotism. (Sporting Cristal, Peru)
as defensively shaky as was feared. The 20-year-old is an attacking midfielder Elusive little 16-year-old left-winger who made
On the other hand, they conceded of intelligence and talent, but different from his a dramatic impact on debut in February for the
good chances against Atalanta and father – right-footed and bigger of build, robust Peruvian Apertura runners-up and looks like
their opening four league games enough to drive powerfully through midfield. a really promising talent. Trained with Peru
were relatively gentle. Born in Italy, he insists that he only wants during September’s World Cup qualifiers.
To an extent, of course, this is to play international football for Uruguay.
just how Real Madrid are. They start Ender ECHENIQUE
slowly and build. They often seem Jairon CHARCOPA (Caracas, Venezuela)
to lack tactical coherence and rely (LDU Quito, Ecuador) Lively, 20-year-old stocky right-winger
on individual brilliance. Mbappe may The 20-year-old forward enjoyed a breakout who did not look out of his depth in the Copa
not have scored in any of the first campaign in the first half of 2024 in Ecuador. Libertadores either, on target with a well-taken
four league games – although he Fast and direct, he usually operates on the right finish in a losing cause against Rosario.
took his goal in the Super Cup wing but is able to play across the frontline. Tim Vickery
extremely sharply – but there are
few players you’d rather have latching
onto a one-on-one. While there are
problems, they feel like the sort of
problems Madrid are used to; for a
long time they’ve been a club who
have defined the modern orthodoxy
that matches are about philosophies
and ideologies and processes.
Logic says that their present
forward line lacks balance; but Real
Madrid are accustomed to defying
logic with genius.

WORLD SOCCER 17
THE WORLD THIS MONTH

“Unfortunately, following the events with the coach

and after much reflection, I have decided not to return
to the Belgian national team under his management”
Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois announces that he will not play for Belgium while Domenico Tedesco is coach

THE BIGGEST DEALS Desire DOUE

Few academies in recent years can

OF SUMMER 2024
£64.4m Julian ALVAREZ (Manchester City to Atletico Madrid)
claim a record like Rennes’. This
decade alone, Eduardo Camavinga
(Real Madrid), Mathys Tel (Bayern
£55m Dominic SOLANKE (Bournemouth to Tottenham Hotspur) Munich) and Lesley Ugochukwu
£54m Pedro NETO (Wolverhampton Wanderers to Chelsea) (Chelsea) have all left the club for
£52.2m Leny YORO (Lille to Manchester United) significant fees, while two of their
£51m Dani OLMO (RB Leipzig to Barcelona) other recent graduates, Georginio
£50.6m Joao NEVES (Benfica to Paris Saint-Germain) Rutter (Brighton) and Sacha Boey
£50.5m Moussa DIABY (Aston Villa to Al Ittihad) David NERES (Bayern Munich), have also been
£50m Amadou ONANA (Everton to Aston Villa) It feels a long time ago now that the subject of big moves this year.
£45m Michael OLISE (Crystal Palace to Bayern Munich) Neres played a key role in Ajax’s Doue, 19, will line up in PSG’s attack
£43.2m Teun KOOPMEINERS (Atalanta to Juventus) shock run to the semi-finals of with another Rennes graduate in
£42.6m Desire DOUE (Rennes to Paris Saint-Germain) the 2018-19 Champions League Ousmane Dembele as Luis Enrique
£42.4m Douglas LUIZ (Aston Villa to Juventus) with knockout-round goals against builds a side of youth and verve.
£42.3m Joao PALHINHA (Fulham to Bayern Munich) Juventus and Real Madrid. Since
£42.3m Manuel UGARTE (Paris Saint-Germain to Manchester United) then, his career has been marked Bilal EL KHANNOUSS
£42m Riccardo CALAFIORI (Bologna to Arsenal) by bad luck. After injuries saw him Fresh from winning an Olympic
£42m Joao FELIX (Atletico Madrid to Chelsea) slip down the pecking order at bronze medal with Morocco in
£40m Max KILMAN (Wolverhampton Wanderers to West Ham United) the Amsterdam club, he joined Paris, where he scored one goal
£40m Georginio RUTTER (Leeds United to Brighton) Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2022, and set up two, the 20-year-old
£40m Ivan TONEY (Brentford to Al Ahli) just weeks before Russia’s invasion moved to Leicester for a reported
£38.8m ENDRICK (Palmeiras to Real Madrid) of Ukraine. He never kicked a ball £21m fee and arrives in England
£38.5m Matthijs DE LIGT (Bayern Munich to Manchester United) for the Donbas side and joined with plenty of ambition. A shock
£37.9m Mohamed SIMAKAN (RB Leipzig to Al Nassr) Benfica that summer. After two name in the Atlas Lions’ 2022
£37.5m Ian MAATSEN (Chelsea to Aston Villa) seasons in Portugal, he earned his World Cup squad, where he made
£36.5m Joshua ZIRKZEE (Bologna to Manchester United) first move to a top-five league, and his debut in the third-place play-
£35m Elliot ANDERSON (Newcastle United to Nottingham Forest) notched assists off the bench in his off against Croatia, El Khannouss’
£34.2m Willian PACHO (Eintracht Frankfurt to Paris Saint-Germain) first two Serie A matches for Napoli. progression has been clear to see
£34m Conor GALLAGHER (Chelsea to Atletico Madrid) With the 27-year-old on one wing – he was named both the Belgian
£34m Emile SMITH ROWE (Arsenal to Fulham) and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on the league’s Young Player of the Season
£33.8m MARCOS LEONARDO (Benfica to Al Hilal) other, plus Romelu Lukaku through and Genk’s Player of the Season last
£33m Yankuba MINTEH (Newcastle United to Brighton) the middle, Gli Azzurri could thrive. term. For a player who describes
£31.7m EVANILSON (Porto to Bournemouth) himself as an attacking midfielder
£31.5m Wilson ODOBERT (Burnley to Tottenham Hotspur) ANDRE or winger, and cites fellow Genk
£30.8m SAVINHO (Troyes to Manchester City) The defensive midfielder barely graduate Kevin De Bruyne as an
£30.1m Alessandro BUONGIORNO (Torino to Napoli) missed a minute of Fluminense’s influence, his offensive numbers
£30m Joachim ANDERSEN (Crystal Palace to Fulham) run to Copa Libertadores glory are modest with just three league
£30m Kiernan DEWSBURY-HALL (Leicester City to Chelsea) in 2023, earning a spot in the goals and six assists last season.
£30m Romelu LUKAKU (Chelsea to Napoli) Team of the Tournament. It was But the Foxes regard him as a
£30m Igor THIAGO (Club Brugge to Brentford) the prospect of winning that trophy talented player with big potential.
£29.8m Alexander SORLOTH (Villarreal to Atletico Madrid) that persuaded the 23-year-old
£28.1m Artem DOVBYK (Girona to Roma) to reject a move to Liverpool, who Ferdi KADIOGLU
£28m Lewis HALL (Chelsea to Newcastle United)* earmarked the player to fill their One of the standout performers
£27.4m Mikel MERINO (Real Sociedad to Arsenal) void in midfield last summer. from Turkey’s impressive run to the
£27m Niclas FULLKRUG (Borussia Dortmund to West Ham United) Instead, Andre stayed, became a Euro 2024 quarter-finals, Kadioglu’s
£27m Moussa NIAKHATE (Nottingham Forest to Lyon) South American champion with the signing completed a remarkably
£27m David RAYA (Brentford to Arsenal)* club he had been at since the age lavish summer for Brighton as they
£26.7m Mason GREENWOOD (Manchester United to Marseille) of 12, then headed to Saudi Arabia passed the £150m mark in terms
£26m Matt O’RILEY (Celtic to Brighton) for the Club World Cup where he of net spend, making them one of
£25.7m Maximilian BEIER (Hoffenheim to Borussia Dortmund) was named player of the match in the biggest-spending clubs in the
£25.7m Scott McTOMINAY (Manchester United to Napoli) the semi-final victory over Egyptian world. With a total outlay just shy of
£25.7m Deniz UNDAV (Brighton to Stuttgart) giants Al Ahly. Now he finally has £200m, only Chelsea spent more.
£25.6m David NERES (Benfica to Napoli) his Premier League chance, and In Kadioglu they’ve signed a versatile
£25.6m Mats WIEFFER (Feyenoord to Brighton) should feel right at home as one of player, capable of playing on either
£25.4m Ferdi KADIOGLU (Fenerbahce to Brighton) several Portuguese speakers in the side of the defence or in midfield,
£25.4m Robin LE NORMAND (Real Sociedad to Atletico Madrid) Wolves squad. Made his debut as a who hardly missed a minute as
Italicised players denote completed transfers since last issue late substitute in the 1-1 draw with Fenerbahce racked up 99 points
*Loan deal turned permanent Source: The Guardian Nottingham Forest in August. in last season’s Turkish Super Lig.

18 WORLD SOCCER
 GLOBAL FOOTBALL INTELLIGENCE

“The book is basically closed to him. He knows what I think about

this. When you are 26, your main ambition should be sporting,
not financial...he could have stayed at Ajax, that’s not bad, is it?”
Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman rules out selecting Steven Bergwijn going forward after his move to Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad

The month in numbers

The facts and stats that have caught our eye in the world of football this month...

Silver medallist
…Thierry Henry
3 Historic…Ali Al
Hamadi in action
reached the Olympics Under-20 Intercontinental Cup finals for Ipswich
final in the summer that have taken place between the
youth champions of South America
and Europe. In the latest edition,
Flamengo beat Olympiacos 2-1
in Rio de Janeiro to lift the trophy.

35
Games that Bayer Leverkusen

1
went unbeaten in the Bundesliga,
a run that was finally brought to an
end by a 3-2 defeat to RB Leipzig.
Iraqi players to have appeared in
the Premier League after Ipswich
Town’s Ali Al Hamadi made his top-
flight debut. The Middle East nation
becomes the 124th country to be
represented in the competition.

4
Matches that Daniel Sousa
managed Braga for, before being
17
Games that Thierry Henry led the
40
Age that Brazilian winger Willian
says he will play to after joining
sacked by the Portuguese side. France Under-21s and Under-23s Sequence over…Leipzig’s Greek giants Olympiacos on
before stepping down from the Lois Openda scores to end a free transfer from Fulham.
5 role in August – almost exactly
Leverkusen’s unbeaten run

International matches that Uruguay’s a year after being appointed. 171

Darwin Nunez has been banned for £10m Competitive defeats suffered
after confronting Colombia fans in 7 Transfer fee Birmingham City paid by San Marino – a run that also
the stands at the Copa America. Months that Juan Mata was a free Fulham for striker Jay Stansfield, included five draws – before they
agent for before joining A-League the biggest-ever outlay by an finally won their first competitive
7 side Western Sydney Wanderers. English third-tier club. match, a 1-0 Nations League

€60
African nations that Tom Saintfiet victory over Liechtenstein.
has led after the Belgian coach left 900
Philippines to take charge of Mali – Career goals scored by Cristiano Price cap on away ticket prices 2027
Gambia, Togo, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Ronaldo after he hit the landmark in this season’s Champions League, Year that Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal
Malawi and Namibia are the others. in Portugal’s 2-1 win over Croatia. introduced by UEFA. In the Europa deal will expire after the Gunners
League the figure will be €40, and manager signed a new contract.
3 €20 in the Conference League.
£2.6m
Athletic legend…
League games that Andrea Pirlo Iker Muniain on
managed Sampdoria for this season his first day at
San Lorenzo
23 Participation money that Larne and
before being sacked, with the club Consecutive Premier League TNS will each receive for qualifying
sitting second-bottom in Serie B. seasons that James Milner has for the Conference League proper.

560
competed in, a new record.
2
28 Ex-Chelsea bosses that manage
Athletic Club appearances made Minutes that Marco Reus was on US national teams after Mauricio
by Iker Muniain, second on their the pitch for in his MLS debut for Pochettino took charge of the
all-time list, before leaving Bilbao LA Galaxy, in which time he scored men’s side to join women’s
to join Argentine side San Lorenzo. one goal and set up another. manager Emma Hayes.

WORLD SOCCER 19
THE WORLD THIS MONTH

“We laughed, we cried and we knew we were saying goodbye.

Sven, thank you for always being the person you have always
been – passionate, caring, calm and a true gentleman”
Ex-England captain David Beckham on his final meeting with Sven-Goran Eriksson

OBITUARIES
Sven-Goran ERIKSSON
(1948-2024)
After ending his playing career at the
age of 27, Eriksson quickly made his
name as a manager by sensationally
leading IFK Goteburg to the UEFA Cup
in 1981-82. That proved the start of a
trophy-laden jet-setting career that took
him to Benfica, Roma, Fiorentina, back
to Benfica, Sampdoria and Lazio, before
becoming the England manager in 2001.
In five years, he led the Three Lions
at three major tournaments – the 2002
and 2006 World Cups and Euro 2004,
reaching the quarter-finals of each. In
an era defined by tabloid stories about
Sven and his squad, as well as a sense
of underachievement for the so-called
“Golden Generation”, he remained a
popular figure among his players.
His post-England career took him to
national roles with Mexico, Ivory Coast
and the Philippines, three separate jobs
in the Chinese Super League, and
ambitious big-spending projects with
Manchester City, Notts County and Stanley TSHABALALA Farewell tour United, Bamba joined Cardiff City in
Leicester City, before enjoying (1949-2024) …Eriksson on 2016 and was named in the 2017-18
his return to
retirement back home in Sweden. Coach of the first South African team Sampdoria earlier PFA Championship Team of the Year
When it was revealed in January back in world football after FIFA lifted this year, with before helping the Bluebirds gain an
2024 that he was terminally ill, Eriksson its ban on the country in 1992. club chairman historic promotion to the Premier
Matteo Manfredi
enjoyed something of a farewell tour, and club legend League in 2018-19.
taking charge of Liverpool – the club Sol BAMBA Roberto Mancini Internationally Bamba won 46 caps
he had supported since childhood – (1985-2024) for the Ivory Coast, starting alongside
at Anfield in a charity game, and After beginning his career in Paris Kolo Toure in defence en route to the
returning to a number of his old Saint-Germain’s youth setup, Bamba final of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.
clubs to a hero’s welcome. made a name for himself in Scotland,
In total, Eriksson won 18 trophies in making a combined 131 appearances Ramiro BLACUT
his career, including the European Cup for Dunfermline and Hibernian, where (1944-2024)
Winners’ Cup and Serie A title with Lazio his physicality and tackling ability quickly Road to promotion A Bolivia international forward, helping
and three Portuguese league titles with led to him becoming a cult hero. …Bamba celebrates the team win their first and only Copa
a win for Cardiff
Benfica, whom he also led to the 1990 After spells with Leicester City, with manager America in 1963, Blacut made Bayern
European Cup final. Trabzonspor, Palermo and Leeds Neil Warnock Munich history as the club’s first-ever
Henry Winter tribute on page 30 South American player.

Ronny BORCHERS Marc BOURRIER

(1957-2024) (1934-2024)
UEFA Cup winner with Eintracht Frankfurt Coach of France’s Under-21 side
in 1979-80, who played six times for when they were crowned European
West Germany between 1978 and 1981. champions in 1988 and the last coach
of the Bernard Tapie era at Marseille.
ADILIO His playing career saw him play over
(1956-2024) 300 games for Montpellier and Lens.
A Flamengo legend, playing over 600
games for the Rio giants, placing him Tommy CASSIDY
third on their all-time list. Starred in the (1950-2024)
side that won their first Libertadores in Former Newcastle and Northern Ireland
1981, and then scored against Liverpool midfielder of 24 caps, starring in the 1980
in the 3-0 Intercontinental Cup victory Home Championship success and at the
later that year in Tokyo. World Cup in Spain two years later.

20 WORLD SOCCER
 GLOBAL FOOTBALL INTELLIGENCE

“Take a walk around my centre-half,

gentlemen, he’s a colossus!”
Liverpool manager Bill Shankly after unveiling his new signing Ron Yeats to the press in1961

Christoph DAUM Although discharged, he collapsed

(1953-2024) again in June and his health sadly
Despite a managerial career that deteriorated. A winger who was part
featured trophies and success in of Egypt’s winning squad of the 2013
Germany, Turkey and Belgium, Daum African Under-20 Championship, and
is perhaps best remembered for his played at the 2021 Arab Cup.
stint at Bayer Leverkusen, whom he
led to three second-place finishes in Craig SHAKESPEARE
four years, infamously losing the title (1963-2024)
on the final day of the 1999-2000 After a playing career featuring over
season. Before that spell he won league 500 Football League appearances
titles at Stuttgart and Besiktas, and for Walsall, Sheffield Wednesday,
after it lifted domestic crowns with West Bromwich Albion and Grimsby,
Austria Vienna and Fenerbahce, before Shakespeare is best remembered as
returning to manage Cologne and a coach. After joining Leicester City as
Eintracht Frankfurt, eventually retiring assistant to Nigel Pearson, he remained
after brief spells in charge of Club Number three… Juan IZQUIERDO in his post when Claudio Ranieri took
Brugge, Bursaspor and Romania. Nacional fans pay (1997-2024) charge and played a key role in the
tribute to Juan
Izquierdo A two-time Uruguayan league champion Foxes’ stunning Premier League title
Roy GREAVES with Montevideo outfits Liverpool and win in 2015-16. When the Italian was
(1947-2024) Nacional, the defender collapsed while sacked during the following season,
Greaves was a mainstay for Bolton playing for the latter against Sao Paulo Shakespeare was promoted to the
Wanderers between 1965 and 1980, during a Copa Libertadores match and top job but only lasted a few months.
making more than 500 appearances sadly passed away five days later. Later worked as an assistant at Everton,
and scoring 66 league goals. He later Watford, Aston Villa and Norwich City
played for Seattle Sounders in the George HERD before returning to Leicester.
US, before retiring at Rochdale. (1936-2024)
Scotland forward of five caps who played Franciszek SMUDA
PAQUITO Garcia 278 league games for Sunderland and (1948-2024)
(1938-2024) won the Scottish Cup in 1957-58 with A hugely influential Polish coach,
As a player, midfielder Paquito won the Clyde before retiring at Hartlepool. named the country’s Coach of the
European Championship with Spain in Year on four separate occasions, he
1964 and La Liga with Valencia in Humberto MASCHIO led the national team on home soil
1970-71, before a 30-year managerial (1933-2024) (co-hosted with Ukraine) at Euro 2012.
career. During the 1990s, he became An international forward for both
something of a promotion specialist, Argentina – scoring 12 goals in 12 Ron YEATS
leading Racing Santander, Villarreal games and winning the 1957 Copa (1937-2024)
and Rayo Vallecano into La Liga. America – and Italy who he represented A towering central defender described
at the 1962 World Cup while playing as a “mountain” and “colossus” by
Charles HUGHES his club football in Serie A. As a player former Liverpool manager Bill Shankly,
(1933-2024) with his hometown club Racing, he Yeats was brought to Anfield by his
One of the biggest influences of English formed part of the famous “Angels fellow Scot in 1961 and instantly made
football in the 20th century, Hughes’ With Dirty Faces” forward line (a captain. One of the defining figures in
work as the FA’s director of coaching nickname that was used as the title for the Reds’ history for his role in their
was instrumental in the promotion Jonathan Wilson’s history of Argentinian success during the 1960s, Yeats
of direct football at both club and football) before moving across the skippered the side to the Second
international level. Atlantic in 1957 to win a Scudetto Division title and promotion, and then
and a Coppa Italia across spells with two top-flight titles and an FA Cup.
Willi LEMKE Bologna, Atalanta, Internazionale and In total he played 454 games for
(1946-2024) Fiorentina. In 1967, he returned to the Reds – including 417 as captain,
Werder Bremen’s long-serving general Racing to win the Copa Libertadores, a record bettered only by Steven
manager, leading the club between 1981 and lifted the trophy again as the Gerrard – placing him 22nd on
and 1999, with the Green and Whites club’s manager six years later. the club’s all-time appearance list.
winning two Bundesliga titles and three Coincidentally, the player above him in
German Cups under his leadership. Ahmed REFAAT 21st, Sami Hyypia, was recommended
Alongside his football duties Lemke (1993-2024) by Yeats in his role as club scout.
was also a politician, working for the Egypt international who suffered
UN as a special adviser on sport a heart attack during an Egyptian Words by Ewan Grady, Mark
for development and peace. Premier League match in March. Gleeson and Jamie Evans

WORLD SOCCER 21
 Headliners
FC Noah
The Conference League debutants from Armenia
have packed a lot into their seven-year history
oah’s qualification
for the inaugural
league phase of
the 2024-25
UEFA Conference
League is a rapid
ascent for a club
founded just seven years ago.
Originally known as FC Artsakh
– the Armenian word for the former
breakaway state of Nagorno-Karabakh,
which was invaded by Azerbaijan last
year – the club was based out of
Armenia’s capital Yerevan.
In 2019, the club changed its
name to FC Noah after being bought
by former politician Karen Abrahamyan
and shifted grounds to share with
Alashkert. Noah won the Armenian
Cup in 2020 to qualify for a maiden
European adventure, which ended
in the first qualifying round of the
Europa League.
At one point, the club’s website
listed the founder and owner as Bagrat Back in Armenia, Noah qualified for European said Gervorkyan in a statement.
Gazaryan, who worked at Russian Europe again and the inaugural season debutants…Noah’s Vardanyan owns the Armenia Wine
name is revealed
construction group Summa. Roman of UEFA’s new Conference League in at the Conference Company and is president of Digitain,
Gevorkyan then became the club’s 2021-22, only to once more exit in the League draw an Armenian-based company offering
owner as Noah sought to embrace a first qualifying round. By the end of services to the betting industry.
multi-club ownership (MCO) model. that season, the club had left Yerevan Wholesale changes at Noah have
When Italian club Siena went bust, for the West Armenian province of finally brought European success.
the club was reformed in 2020 with Armavir and started playing at the The club signed swathes of new
help from Noah and was readmitted Hakob Tonoyan players this summer
to Serie C. Noah’s attentions then City Stadium. Wholesale changes at Noah have – including former
turned to Germany and Latvia. In May 2023,
In Germany, Gevorkyan and Gevorkyan was
finally brought European success Portugal Under-20
international winger
Noah were hailed as the saviours linked with a bid Helder Ferreira from
of KFC Uerdingen after the third-tier for English League One side Charlton Anorthosis Famagusta and compatriot
club filed for insolvency due to losses Athletic. A takeover never materialised Goncalo Gregorio from Romania’s
caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in and in August 2023, he sold Noah to Dinamo Bucuresti – and under new
February 2021. Less than six months another associate. “The future vector head coach Rui Mota steamrollered
later, Uerdingen were relegated to of the development of Noah FC will be Historic…Noah new Shkendija from North Macedonia
Regionalliga West after failing to meet determined by the club’s new owner, boy Eraldo Cinari in (4-1 on aggregate) and Malta’s Sliema
action against Sliema
3.Liga’s licensing requirements and our long-time friend, businessman, Wanderers during Wanderers (7-0 on aggregate) in the
Gevorkyan and Noah withdrew. and philanthropist Vardges Vardanyan,” the qualifiers first two qualifying rounds of the
KFC Uerdingen survived but Latvian Conference League.
club FC Lokomotiv Daugavpils’ brush Greek giants AEK Athens were then
with Noah would later prove terminal. stunned 3-2 over two legs before Noah
Noah bought Daugavpils in early 2021 edged out Slovakia’s Ruzomberok 4-3
and rebranded the club as Noah Jurmala in the play-offs – with Gregorio scoring
with plans to relocate the club to the against both to add to his earlier strike
resort city of the same name. By March against Shkendija and hat-trick v Sliema
2021, the Armenians had withdrawn – securing Noah’s place on the big stage.
and the club folded that June. With league phase fixtures against
Later, Noah sold the stake in Siena Mlada Boleslav, Rapid Vienna, Chelsea,
to Italian group Global Service but Vikingur Reykjavik, APOEL and TSC
the MCO aspirations continued with Backa Topola to come, Noah will be
a stake taken in French Ligue 2 hoping to make an even bigger splash.
club Paris FC in February 2022. Steve Menary

22 WORLD SOCCER
 PEOPLE AND PLACES IN THE NEWS

Larne
Northern Irish champions’ meteoric rise continues

W hen Larne owner Kenny

Bruce took over in 2017,
European football was
nothing more than a distant dream
with the club rooted near the bottom
rapturous celebrations at Inver Park.
The reward was six more games
against European opposition, the most
eye-catching of which being the clash
with Dubliners Shamrock Rovers. For
of Northern Ireland’s second tier and travelling supporters there will be trips
equally struggling off the pitch. Now, that to Norway to take on Molde, Slovenia’s
dream is a reality after they became the Olimpija Ljubljana and Dinamo Minsk in
first Northern Irish club to reach the neutral Azerbaijan. At “home”, Belfast’s
group phase of a European competition. Windsor Park – Inver Park does not
Supporters at Inver Park had never meet UEFA requirements – will play
seen their team win the NIFL Premiership host to Swiss side St Gallen and
before 2022-23, but they have now won Gent of Belgium as well as Rovers.
it back-to-back. The most recent title For Bruce and his chairman Gareth
brought about a meeting with Latvian Clements, it is a fitting reward for their
side RFS in the Champions League first Ready for Pristina before keeper Rohan Ferguson holistic approach to developing the club,
qualifying round. Although they were a European became the hero in the eventual penalty investing not only in the first team but
adventure
beaten 7-0 on aggregate, the heavy ...Larne shootout back home at Inver Park. also in the stadium, training facilities,
defeat didn’t dampen spirits, especially Qualification was sealed with a 4-3 academy, women’s team and
as Larne had a bye to the Conference aggregate win over Lincoln Red Imps, community projects.
League third qualifying round. despite losing the first leg in Gibraltar Manager Tiernan Lynch has been
There, they met Ballkani, the and then going a goal down and a man in charge throughout the period of
Kosovan side they’d lost to in the same down in the return tie. An Andy Ryan success, and now has the opportunity
competition last season. This time, Matty hat-trick – including two penalties – to test himself on the next stage.
Lusty scored an 89th-minute goal in secured the 3-1 win and sparked Danny Lewis

The New Saints

The Cymru Premier’s first-ever European qualifiers

T he New Saints have also

become the first team from
their league to make the
group stage of a UEFA competition,
joining Larne in the inaugural league
established in 1992, has reached this stage.
Qualification has not brought universal
praise. TNS have a complex relationship
with many Welsh fans as their Park Hall
stadium is based in the English market
phase of the Conference League. town of Oswestry, and there are rumours
The Welsh champions, who last that their home games – against Astana
term enjoyed an undefeated league (Kazakhstan), Djurgarden (Sweden) and
season, overcame Panevezys by seeing Panathinaikos (Greece) – may be moved
out a goalless second leg at Park Hall to nearby Shrewsbury, also in England.
following a 3-0 victory in Lithuania. The headline tie is the opener against
TNS had competed in qualifying for Fiorentina, Conference League runners-
both the other UEFA club competitions up in both of the last two seasons.
this summer, losing in the Champions Lucrative move Swansea City and Wrexham, have all That task was rendered even more
...Brad Young
League to Ferencvaros before being has left TNS for
previously played in Europe, primarily difficult by the departure of last season’s
narrowly ousted in the Europa League Saudi Arabia in the old Cup Winners’ Cup (despite top scorer Brad Young, who was snapped
by Moldovan champions Petrocub. playing in the English pyramid, all three up by Saudi Pro League’s Al Orobah. The
Despite being record 16-time Welsh were invited to compete in the Welsh 21-year-old, who was released by Aston
champions, and thus regular European Cup until 1995). The Swans also made Villa last year, will play alongside the likes
qualifying participants, TNS had never the Europa League in 2013-14 after of Kurt Zouma and Cristian Tello at his
before managed to successfully reach winning the English League Cup, but new club – but he will also miss out on the
the main stages of a competition. TNS’ qualification marks the first time adventure of a lifetime with his old team.
Wales’ biggest clubs, Cardiff City, that a club from the Cymru Premier, James Kelly

WORLD SOCCER 23
 Headliners

Saud Abdulhamid
Saudi Arabia right-back goes against the tide by moving to Europe

hile Saleh
Al Shehri
and Salem
Al Dawsari
took the
headlines
as they
scored the goals that gave Saudi Arabia
that famous win over Argentina at the
2022 World Cup, many felt that Saud
Abdulhamid was the standout star.
There were rumours that Juventus
were interested, but in August the
right-back – who can play further
up the pitch too – got his big move. It
wasn’t to Turin but to the Italian capital
where Roma reportedly paid around
€3 million for the 25-year-old.
Being replaced at Al Hilal by Joao
Cancelo is a point of pride, but the
bigger deal is that the Jeddah-born
international has done something that
few of his compatriots have managed:
moved to a top European league. It is
an ambition that the player has had back in 2000 when he played five Saudi star… succeed in Rome – and coach Daniele
for a while. games. He has remained a passionate Abdulhamid in De Rossi said the player will need time
action for Al Hilal
With almost 40 international caps advocate of his compatriots heading – then perhaps other European clubs
and two Saudi Pro League titles under overseas. More recently, there was will look to the Gulf region for talent
his belt, the cool defender has what a strange loan deal in 2018 that but he is not the only hope. A few days
it takes to succeed. He was perhaps saw nine Saudi players join clubs in after his transfer, Al Ittihad loaned two
the domestic player of the season in Spain’s top two tiers. There wasn’t young internationals, Faisal Al Ghamdi
2023-24, playing consistently well as much action to and Marwan Al Sahafi,
Al Hilal strolled to the title, setting a write home to “I hope I can give it my all here to Belgian outfit
new world record of 34 consecutive Riyadh about. Beerschot, who are
wins along the way. Players tend
and make all Saudis proud of my newly promoted to the
Playing and training in a team that to blame clubs performances” top flight and partly
contains Neymar, Aleksandar Mitrovic, for their lack Abdulhamid on his move to Roma Saudi-owned, for the
Ruben Neves, Kalidou Koulibaly and of travel, saying season. They may not
Yassine Bounou has certainly helped. owners are reluctant to let their local get the same attention but should find
The former Al Ittihad player was part stars go. Clubs say players are too it easier to get regular playing time
of a defence that conceded just 23 comfortable at home with the kind under coach Dirk Kuyt.
times in 34 league games last term, of large salaries and star treatment Abdulhamid’s time in Rome will be
despite facing renowned attackers that they would not get in the more Famous victory… more closely followed. “To be honest,
Abdulhamid tackles
such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Riyad competitive environment of Europe. Lionel Messi at the being here is such a great achievement
Mahrez and Karim Benzema. “I’ve If Abdulhamid can settle and then 2022 World Cup from a personal point of view,” he said.
learnt lots from them, they’re big “I hope I can give it my all here and
stars,” Abdulhamid said. make all Saudis proud of my
There has been a well-documented performances.”
and well-oiled pipeline that takes such There is no doubt that Saudi
talent from Europe to Riyadh, Jeddah Arabia is seen as an important market
and elsewhere in the Kingdom, but for European clubs and leagues – in
there are few examples of players January the country will host the Italian
going the other way. Super Cup for the fifth time – and there
Sami Al Jaber, a legend of may be commercial benefits too. But,
Asian football who appeared ultimately, those benefits can only
at four World Cups and scored in be maximised if the player performs.
three, had a five-month loan spell Abdulhamid has what it takes to do
with Wolverhampton Wanderers, just that and shine in the Eternal City.
then in England’s second tier, John Duerden

24 WORLD SOCCER
 PEOPLE AND PLACES IN THE NEWS

Jamal Lewis
Northern Ireland left-back completes unlikely move to Sao Paulo

O ne of the trends of the latest

transfer window was that of
increased spending by Brazilian
clubs – a consequence of greater
financial power, in part a result of the
since his impressive Premier League
form for Norwich in 2019-20. The move
to Newcastle has not proved a success,
and he spent last season on loan at
Watford. He can only gain experience,
new business model that some clubs and hopefully regain momentum, with
have adopted in the past three years. a move to a giant club playing in (by
The giant clubs have spent the last far) South America’s strongest league.
few years trying to bring back Brazilians He made a good start before kicking a
from Europe either towards the end of ball, going on social media to announce
their careers or whose moves across the his excitement at joining Sao Paulo,
Atlantic haven’t worked. This extended and remarking that he shares the same
to other South Americans – Flamengo’s Northern Ireland not unprecedented. Over a century ago, birthday as the club – good research
signing of Southampton’s Carlos Alcaraz international a rumbustious one-time Liverpool centre- and even better public relations.
…Jamal Lewis
shows they can compete for younger forward called Henry Welfare was a smash After the September international
players – and Europeans, although hit with Fluminense, scoring 165 goals at break, he joined a team not far off the
Corinthians’ signing of Memphis Depay around a-goal-a-game between 1913 and pace in the Brazilian championship title
comes across as the desperation of a 1924. In more recent times, London-born race and preparing for the quarter-
big club fighting relegation. Sao Paulo’s Colin Kazim-Richards played for Coritiba finals of the Copa Libertadores.
signing of Newcastle’s Jamal Lewis would and Corinthians, and Yannick Bolasie, He can be eased in gently; Welington
seem more the product of curiosity, a so much a Londoner that he is a figure is still around until the end of the season,
type of “let’s see if this works” transfer. on the grime music scene, is enjoying so the new signing should not have too
With Welington to join Southampton a storming debut season with Criciuma. much responsibility thrust upon him as he
in January, Sao Paulo were in the market But since their international football has adapts to his new surroundings. But in
for a new left-back. They were alerted been played for Turkey and DR Congo Brazil’s over-cluttered calendar, games
that Lewis might be available and willing, respectively, headlines have been made come thick and fast. At one point, Lewis
and the deal – a loan until June 2025 with Lewis, Luton-born but capped nearly was a promising middle-distance runner
with an option to buy – went through 40 times by Northern Ireland, embarking – experience that could come in handy
as the window was closing. on a South American adventure. in the course of the marathon campaign.
Intriguing as it might be, the deal is And why not? His career has stalled Tim Vickery

Luis Suarez
Uruguay legend ends his international career

A fter 143 caps and a record

69 goals for Uruguay, Luis
Suarez played his final game
for his country in a 2026 World Cup
qualifier versus Paraguay in September.
player from that Copa-winning squad
is still involved with the national team,
so Suarez’s departure marks the end
of an era for Uruguay.
The Inter Miami striker is set to
The 37-year-old played the entirety of continue his club career in MLS for the
the 0-0 draw, and almost signed off rest of this season at least. His contract
in style with an acrobatic volley that expires at the end of 2024, although
thumped the post, after receiving a the club have a one-year option.
hero’s reception before the game. Elsewhere, a number of other high-
A compilation of his best moments profile players also stepped down from
in a blue shirt was screened inside international football. Manuel Neuer and
the Estadio Centenario, as the striker Ilkay Gundogan both quit Germany, Kieran
tearfully watched on with his family, Trippier confirmed he had played his last
with a plaque dedicated to him Tearful…Suarez conference, in which Suarez fought game for England, keeper Yann Sommer
unveiled at the side of the pitch. announces his back tears, he described the 2011 hung up his Switzerland gloves, and Jonny
international
“It’s a personal decision, totally retirement Copa America victory as the highlight Evans called time on his Northern Ireland
understandable,” said Uruguay boss during a press of his career, and said that it was career, while Poland’s Wojciech Szczesny
Marcelo Bielsa of Suarez’s retirement. conference a privilege and honour to be his quit football entirely after leaving Juventus.
In an emotional pre-match press country’s record scorer. No other Jamie Evans

WORLD SOCCER 25
26 WORLD SOCCER
 eye
witness Alec McQuarrie reports

GREECE

Fashion and football

“Athens Kallithea FC is a love story exhausting,” Philipakos explains.
at its core when you strip everything “I think there’s an increased desire
back.” to find something new, no matter
Ted Philipakos is a football how humble it is. In fact, the smaller
romantic. From poring over glossy nature of it might be its charm.”
football magazines as a child in New This is exactly what prised him away
York to unwittingly training his brother from his work as a professor at New
Peter to become a professional player York University focused on branding,
in their back garden, from the depths marketing and the relationship of
of Serie D in Venice to the heady sport with culture and society, and
heights of the Greek top flight with sent him across the Atlantic in 2016.
Athens Kallithea, Ted has a unique “Almost nobody in my position
relationship with the beautiful game. would have accepted the Venezia FC
In three-and-a-half years on and job,” says Philipakos. “I mean, my life
off with Venezia FC, Philipakos’ work was perfectly fine in New York City;
saw the Italian side be described as I had absolutely no reason to be
“the world’s most fashionable football leaving, certainly not for a fourth-
club” by GQ magazine. And it is not division Italian football club that
hard to see why. Their jaw-dropping had been bankrupt three times
jersey releases were heralded by in the previous ten years.”
a slew of five-star reviews and a So why did he take it?
mad scramble as kit aficionados “Because the football romantic
desperately fought to get their in me demanded it, and because
hands on shirts before they sold out. I’m very competitive. I understood
In February 2023, Philipakos left the potential to build something there
Venice to become president and and I had a desire to challenge myself
creative director of Athens Kallithea, and see if we could do it. I certainly
then playing in the Greek second tier. found a lot of beauty in this historic
In May, the club returned to the Super but troubled club that just needed
League for the first time in 18 years. some love.”
But top-flight football is by no Philipakos became the club’s first
means the height of their ambition. CEO upon an American ownership
AKFC are on a serious mission to group taking over the club out of
stay there, disrupt the status quo bankruptcy, and Venezia would
and, more importantly, change the achieve back-to-back promotions to
face of Greek football for good. Serie B, the second promotion coming
Behind the financial success – with Pippo Inzaghi at the helm. After a
Philipakos oversaw a staggering 1,500 brief hiatus, Philipakos returned as their
per cent growth in commercial revenue chief brand officer in August 2020,
in two-and-a-half years at Venezia – revolutionising the club’s image off the
there was always an undercurrent of field, and witnessing their unexpected
authenticity. In fact, perhaps ironically, promotion to the first division via the
it is Philipakos’ focus on the soul, the play-offs. And though Venezia’s stint
culture, the history of clubs and places in the top flight only lasted a season,
from a local perspective that has led their spectacular rise from Serie D to
to their international recognition. Serie A in just five years was nothing
“I think the prevailing elitism of short of a miracle – and laid the
European football right now is so foundations for them to bounce
Ready to change the
face of Greek football monotonous and boring and straight back last season.
...Athens Kallithea

WORLD SOCCER 27
eyewitness

“World’s most
fashionable club”
…Ted Philipakos’
kit designs left a
lasting impact
at Venezia

“Venezia FC was such a successful United on his European debut, and AKFC’s home Greek football pyramid while Ted,
project in terms of energising the local ultimately win a Greek domestic double …the Grigoris with the help of his brother, manages
Lamprakis Stadium
fanbase and turning it into something in a team featuring Rivaldo and Giovanni everything from transfer negotiations to
global. And as enjoyable as it was – I in attack. Injuries ultimately hampered the creative direction of the club, once
took a lot of satisfaction from my work an Odyssean career in Greece, but Ted again honing in on what makes Kallithea
– there was always this slight disconnect was there for it all, as Peter’s agent. special and delivering that identity to
because I’m not Italian, and I’m not The pair are together again at Athens its rapidly-expanding fanbase.
from Venice. I felt like I had put a Kallithea FC, with Ted as club president “If you could go back to those
bow on what I could kids playing in the backyard, what
achieve at Venezia we’re doing now is the wildest dream
and it was time to “The prevailing elitism of European football right you could imagine. As I said, Athens
do something else. now is so monotonous and boring and exhausting” Kallithea FC is a love story. It’s my love
I shifted my focus Athens Kallithea club president Ted Philipakos of football, my love of the city and
to Greece.” maybe first and foremost, my love
But to understand for my brother.”
why Philipakos left the city of love for and Peter as vice-president. It took But can the pair separate their
another club that, until very recently, several attempts for Ted to convince fraternal from their professional lives
plied its trade in the fourth division, you Peter to join him but, along with and go back to being two children
have to go back to the very beginning. majority shareholder Andrew Barroway, playing football in their parents’ garden?
Philipakos’ father was born and raised the two siblings have leveraged their “No,” Ted laughs, “because we’re too
in Athens but, like many others living respective talents to great effect. Peter obsessed. This is an obsession. It’s not
under the Junta regime, emigrated to acts as a guide for the players given his Club owner… a job and this is our lives, for better or
New York as a teenager in 1973, where wealth of experience up and down the Ted Philipakos worse.”
he met Ted’s Greek-Italian mother. Their most recent season very much
Ted and Peter were born in the early falls into the former category. While
1980s, at a time when European football they never revealed this publicly, their
was accessible only through magazine third campaign with the Athenian club
columns and family trips back to Greece. was earmarked for promotion. After two
Dreams of becoming professional years of finishing runners-up and being
football stars would play out in their denied promotion due to the nature of
back garden for most of their childhood. the second division, Ted and Peter were
That was until dreams became reality determined that this time they would be
for Peter. second to none. This is why AKFC’s third
The American University student kit for 2023-24 went from red and blue
went on trial with then 11-time Greek stripes to a glistening gold all over.
league champions AEK Athens. Peter With no room for error, Athens
brushed shoulders with the likes of Kallithea, known by their supporters as
Theo Zagorakis, Vasilios Tsiartas and “City”, needed to secure at least a point
Michalis Kapsis, key figures in Greece’s against title-chasers PAE Chania in their
incredible victory at Euro 2004 with penultimate game of the season to end
Greece that very summer. their 18-year wait for Super League
Financial trouble and coach Dusan football.
Bajevic’s contentious move to rivals The main stand was bubbling with
Olympiacos sent Peter in the same excitement in the lead up to kick-off.
direction, where he would come up A lot of their so-called “ultras” were
against Graeme Souness’ Newcastle not even conceived the last time they

28 WORLD SOCCER
 GREECE

ascended to the first division in 2002. corner to the right. Dress for success...last A busy summer of transfer activity
Tourists who had made the pilgrimage Its unique appearance means it is term’s gold away kit saw former Marseille and Olympiacos
was designed with
to Kallithea’s mind-boggling Grigoris almost exclusively referred to by its promotion in mind magician Mathieu Valbuena through
Lamprakis Stadium mingled with locals nickname: “El Paso”. Built in the 1960s, the door at the age of 39. The club
and the stage was set for an historic the former quarry reminded patrons of have already pushed through a top-
celebration. shots from the Clint Eastwood movie flight restructuring proposal, and urgent
Situated almost exactly one mile For a Few Dollars More and the renovation to their one-of-a-kind home
southwest of the Acropolis, the moniker stuck. is well underway. The hope is that
Grigoris Lamprakis is breathtaking The decider against Chania was not Athens Kallithea can continue to be
not for its size, but for its idiosyncrasy. a classic, but it did have a happy ending. a force for good in the Super League.
As you look out from the main stand, Argentinian centre-half Nicolas Marotta For that to happen, they need to avoid
a wide-shot vista of Athens peels away picked the perfect match to head home relegation.
to the left, peeking from behind a sheer his first goal of the season, cancelling Now the work has truly begun
cliff face that gives a gritty backdrop to out the gut-wrenching opener from for Philipakos and his team.
a squat away stand. Apartment blocks Chania winger Nili Perdomo. And City
teeter precariously over the rock, and held out at 1-1 for the remaining hour.
a sweeping curved terrace, reminiscent Despite more than a couple of close
of an ancient amphitheatre, fills in the shaves, they had done it.

WORLD SOCCER 29
 eye
witness Henry Winter reports

SWEDEN

Inscrutable, calm, respectful

Memories from the press box of England
under the late Sven-Goran Eriksson

Under scrutiny…Eriksson ahead of his first game in charge of England v Spain in February 2001

The voice on the other end of the line had Kevin Keegan’s adrenalin, patriotism
was familiar, friendly and gave absolutely and naive tactics. England were a mess,
no indication of why they were calling. It knocked out early from Euro 2000, and
was Sven-Goran Eriksson, who should their manager resigning in the loos at
have been preparing for the imminent Wembley just before the old stadium
Euro 2004, but was phoning me for was about to go down the pan. And in
some reason instead. The conversation came Eriksson, a Volvo in the middle
meandered, all very civilised, like tea lane of the England hype-way.
with a distant relative – we may even have I initially found him inscrutable.
touched on the weather – before finally With England, it felt as if Sven was
alighting on something more substantial, just a nicely painted front door with
namely media coverage of England’s little behind. His home during his time
qualifying campaign for Portugal. as England manager was one of those
It slowly dawned on me that I was beautiful Nash houses near the Zoo in
being gently chided by Eriksson over my Regent’s Park, London. I was born 150
critical coverage in the Daily Telegraph yards away, knew the row well, and,
of his dalliance with Chelsea when he finding myself sitting next to Sven at
should have been focusing on England. an FA do, regaled him with stories about
As rollickings go, it was like being creatures that had escaped from the zoo
savaged by a feather boa rather than and ended up in his garden. The stories
a boa constrictor. I’ve had the hair drier were decent, if not exactly told with
off Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester Peter Ustinov or Peter Kay style, but
United and a withering dissection of they didn’t register with Sven. He just
my journalistic abilities by Roy Keane sat and smiled. It was like trying to tune
at Ipswich Town; Eriksson’s disapproval in to a radio station, we were certainly
came wrapped in velvet. on different wavelengths. I couldn’t get
That was Eriksson, the epitome of through. Maybe the England job requires
calm as England manager. We’d just a mask. It was really only after he left

30 WORLD SOCCER
WORLD SOCCER 31
eyewitness
England that I got to know Eriksson, did he feel about the job? “Very It was true. At one point, Eriksson was
a man with far more hinterland than proud.” How would he describe Teddy asked by the FA whether he was having
appeared from 2001 to 2006. Sheringham? “Very clever.” Eriksson a fling with the receptionist at Soho
He proved great company, and going was the first England manager a Square. “No, but I’d like to,” he replied.
out to see him at his Sunne home in reporter didn’t need shorthand for. His love of life and self-effacing trait
Sweden was a privilege. He opened up We needed a calculator to work out endeared him to England’s players.
to some of his erstwhile critics, inviting his salary, which intensified the scrutiny. When a group were in the masseurs’
us into his house, greeting us on the His basic was £1.85 million, rising to room enjoying a video making fun of
doorstep with: “Do you want a hotdog, £2m from 2002-03. He got £300,000 Eriksson, he walked in, watched and
boys?” He was a genuinely likeable guy, for qualifying for the 2002 World Cup, joined in the laughter.
with so much to him: poetry, art, a and another £100,000 for reaching the The players loved his calm after the
magnificent furry cat called Meo who quarter-finals (winning it would have Keegan era. Eriksson was so relaxed he
adored him, plus Ame his dog who just brought £500,000). The Euros were less had England booked into the Mandarin
followed Sven around waiting for a ball lucrative. Eriksson received £150,000 Oriental hotel in Munich city centre for
to be kicked or thrown. for qualifying for Euro 2004 and the seismic 2002 World Cup qualifier
Talking over coffee, Eriksson spoke £100,000 for making the quarters. with Germany. The players, used to
of European coaches, like Marcello being hidden out of the way, could hear
Lippi, and they were all friends. It’s the fans singing outside and for some,
forgotten amid the chaos and circus of Five years of hope, heartache, like Steven Gerrard, said it made them
England in that era that Eriksson was a missed penalties, broken bones and feel even more fired up. Sven’s final team-
major European coach, remarkably well dreams defined England on the field talk was simple: “I know we can do it.” His
connected. I was reminded of that when tactics were slightly more sophisticated
he left the national job; he loved the than often depicted. Germany were
country so much he stayed on – “my Sven’s first game was a friendly vulnerable on the counter, England
passport says Swedish but my home is against Spain at Villa Park. We asked had a flier in Michael Owen, so Eriksson
England” – and eventually reappeared him how he felt about meeting up with instructed Gerrard and others to launch
at Manchester City. his new squad. “Nervous, curious,” he diagonals behind Germany’s wing-backs,
All the depth to the man simply said. “It’s like when you meet a new for Emile Heskey to flick on to Owen.
wasn’t visible with England. There’s woman. How will it end up?” Sven was After even Heskey scored, Eriksson sat in
always a slight adversarial relationship dropping clues early. So was his agent, the dressing room at the Olympiastadion
between reporter and England manager. Athole Still, who, when asked by the smiling, Gerrard beseeching him to let
Finest moment
But Sven was always civilised, always FA delegation to Lazio what Sven’s …England’s 5-1 himself go. Not Eriksson’s style.
polite, if not long on answers. How weakness was, replied: “Women!” win in Munich Gradually, we became more aware
 SWEDEN

Sunne, Sweden
…Eriksson at his
home in Lake Fryken

of his character. He could be strong, drained and at risk of lashing out. Captain and coach midfield balance was rarely right.
demanding players behaved respectfully. Five years of hope, heartache, …Eriksson with He was accused of being in awe
David Beckham
He left Frank Lampard out after the missed penalties, broken bones and of David Beckham, and there was
midfielder upset some American tourists dreams defined England on the field. concern when one of the first things
at a Heathrow hotel after 9/11. He could Eriksson told me he always regretted he did as England manager was get a
be compassionate. When Gerrard was not taking a psychologist to tournaments. shirt signed by Beckham for his daughter,
pictured in the Daily Mail having a drink The players needed more relaxation and Lina. But a lot of rewriting of history has
six days before an England game, Eriksson visualisation techniques for that long been done of that era: Beckham was
simply said that he didn’t expect a journey from the halfway line for the an outstanding, whole-hearted, hugely
21-year-old to live like a monk, to learn shootout. At Euro 2004, England were effective and popular player – and
from it, and just concentrate on the game. poorly prepared. David James dived the captain – for Eriksson. Eriksson had
Eriksson certainly wasn’t living like wrong way against Deco, Simao and every right to keep picking Beckham; his
a monk. On the couple of occasions Maniche and asked afterwards why form justified it. Their friendship endured
we had lunch after his England time, he had not been given any detail right up until Sven’s untimely passing.
Eriksson remained bemused by the on the takers. It’s taken until Gareth It took a lot to anger Eriksson. Mainly
English obsession with his love life: Southgate came in to address all that. Sir Alex Ferguson. “You’ll have to call
“I was single!” Over lunch at Skylon in London’s and yell at someone else,” Eriksson
He also never ducked a press South Bank once, Eriksson admitted told him down the phone once. But the
conference, even on the day the he should have played 4-3-3 more angriest I ever heard Eriksson was when
morning papers were frothing over often than 4-4-2. Smiling, he flipped he let rip about the hacking of his phone
tittle-tattle that Eriksson insisted on the debate across the table and asked: – the source, it turned out, of much of
filling the dishwasher before sex. Truly “Well, who would you have left out?” the salacious tabloid chat he was
a soap opera. Personally, I was more Even with the benefit of hindsight, subjected to. He couldn’t believe
concerned about his flirting with clubs I struggled. England looked best people would stoop so low.
like Manchester United and Chelsea, in Germany when Michael Carrick Eriksson was big on respect. He
as well as the years of hurt continuing. anchored behind Gerrard and Lampard had principles. He was very trusting,
Given the quality of players he could against Ecuador. The memory of Paul naively so of the financial adviser who
call on, Eriksson underachieved. Looking Scholes on the left wing at Euro 2004 squandered his money. “£10 million,”
back, he would always reflect on fine still sends a shiver down the spine. But Sven sighed when ringing me, keen
lines. He’d sigh at the injuries that struck Eriksson had a point, who to omit. If he Penalty regrets for publicity to shame his adviser.
key players at inopportune moments. had dropped either Lampard or Gerrard, …Eriksson after Even on that call, the charming, very
the 2006 World
In 2002, Owen’s hamstring went against the headlines would have been toxic. Cup quarter-final human Eriksson chatted politely
Denmark in the last 16. He told Eriksson He also had Owen Hargreaves. The defeat to Portugal before getting to the point.
before the Brazil quarter-final that he
could only manage a couple of full-on
sprints otherwise it will “snap in two”.
He outsprinted Lucio, scored, but faded.
Mentioning metatarsals could sadden
someone even as positive as Eriksson.
David Beckham, protecting his healed
foot in 2002, leapt out of a tackle with
Ronaldinho and Rivaldo scored. Wayne
Rooney broke the fifth metatarsal on his
right foot against Portugal in 2004 and
England lost their best player and one of
their penalty-takers. Before the 2006
World Cup, Rooney broke the fourth,
this time against Chelsea. He went to
Germany lacking sharpness, was wound
up by Ricardo Carvalho in Gelsenkirchen
and stamped on the Portuguese centre-
back. “It was fate,” Sven said of Rooney’s
red card, but the young striker was

WORLD SOCCER 33
CHAMPIONS
LEAGUE
2024-25

A New Era
Nick Bidwell explains the newly
revamped UEFA Champions League

Revised format…this
season’s Champions
League draw
 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

phase will continue until late January

2025. For the last matchday, all 18
matches will be played simultaneously.
The group phase also has been
scrapped in the Europa League and
Conference League. The Europa League
will function with exactly the same new
format as the Champions League. The
Conference League will start with a
single 36-team league too, but will have
just six matchdays – three home and
three away instead of four of each.
Inevitably, the new formula has
its advocates and detractors. Yet
what cannot be denied is that the
old group stage had become stale, a
virtual procession of predictability. With
a breakaway European Super League
on the agenda of several big clubs,
something had to be done to head
off the rebel concept at the pass.
The number one attraction of the
Welcome to the brave new world of the Holders...Real Madrid 25th or lower will exit European new-look Champions League will be
33rd edition of the UEFA Champions are chasing their16th competition altogether. Unlike past the increase in glamour ties. A Pot 1
European crown
League, the extensively revamped years, no excluded teams from this seed was guaranteed to meet two other
meeting place for Europe’s top clubs. term’s Champions League will have a behemoths from the same grouping (see
A competition with more participants second chance in the Europa League. page 55 for the fixtures). All in all, music
(36 instead of 32), more games (an Teams finishing in ninth to 24th will to the ears of the top dogs, who should
increase from 125 to 189), hopefully take part in two-legged play-offs for stand to clean up at the box office. What’s
more fan appeal and, let’s whisper a spot in the last 16. Those who finish more, the prospect of going head-to-
it, greater big-shot solidarity. between ninth and 16th will be seeded head with eight opponents should
After coming to the conclusion and face one of the teams in the 17th make for an intriguing wind of change.
that the old first-phase format of through 24th positions. The seeded Such Champions League debutants
eight groups of four teams had passed sides will have the advantage of as Aston Villa, Bologna, Girona, Brest
its sell-by date, a new, revolutionary playing the second leg on home turf. and Slovan Bratislava will love the new
process will be the order of the day, If two teams complete the league system too. Instead of six bites at the
with all 36 clubs competing in one programme level on points, goal cherry, they now have eight.
initial league for the right to progress difference and goals scored will come The one overwhelming drawback, of
to the springtime knockout rounds. into play. Should another tiebreaker course, is the makeover’s contribution
In this brand-new Swiss-system be required, the total points gained to the ever-growing problem of fixture
league, each club will play eight games, by the tied clubs’ eight opponents congestion. Top pros are already under
split evenly between home and away will be tallied, thus giving the nod to enough strain and the added Champions
fixtures, against eight different teams. the side which had the toughest path. League workload will only increase the
To determine one’s opponents, teams From the round of 16 onwards, the likelihood of more serious injuries.
were ranked in four seeding pots (as has competition will revert to its traditional It could prove especially difficult for
been the case for many a long year) and two-legged knockout format, albeit with those clubs involved in the February
each side were then drawn to play two a tennis-style set draw, with a clearly- play-offs for last-16 berths. They must
opponents from each pot – one at defined path to the final in Munich. deal with four extra top-level games, a
home and one on the road. As usual, the competition began state of affairs that could, conceivably,
Based on the normal three points in mid-September. But with two extra be very problematic for sides in Europe’s
for a win and one for a draw, the final matchdays to fit in, the opening league most competitive leagues.
classification will dictate a club’s destiny:
further progress, elimination or a place Champions League
in the repechage. The top eight sides debutants…Girona
are one of five new
in the league will qualify automatically sides in this year’s
for the last 16, while those that finish tournament

Final host…
Bayern Munich’s
Allianz Arena

WORLD SOCCER 35
 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2024-25

The exodus
from the
over-
achievers
The squads of four surprise
qualifiers for the Champions
League have been ransacked,
writes James Kelly

Th
The 2023
2023-24 24 European
E i
campaign j i
to join
produced a string of surprising high Europe’s
finishes across the major leagues. biggest
While unbeaten Bundesliga sides.
champions Bayer Leverkusen rightly In recent
attracted most plaudits in Germany, seasons
the feat of runners-up Stuttgart was strong performers
almost as impressive. In Spain, Girona in the Champions League, such
earned automatic Champions League as Monaco and Ajaax, have been
qualification in only their fourth-ever top- victims of their ow wn success,
flight campaign, while Bologna finished losing their best taalent to ellite
fifth in Serie A and unfashionable Brest clubs. But at least they werre
ended third in Ligue 1. able to reap the beenefits off
To put their achievements into those talents at the highestt level
context, the quartet have all played in first. In 2016-17, a squad featuring
their respective countries’ second tiers Kylian Mbappe, Beernardo Silva
in the past decade. Bologna last graced and Fabinho took Monaco to the
Serie B in 2014-15, while Brest climbed semi-final stage beefore movving
out of Ligue 2 in 2018-19. Stuttgart on to bigger thingss; two yeaars later,
finished second in the 2019-20 Ajax’s homegrown n stars Maatthijs de
2.Bundesliga, with Girona playing Ligt and Frenkie dee Jong took their
at the second level of the Spanish team to the same stage befoore joining
pyramid as recently as 2021-22. Juventus and Barcelona resspectively..
All four clubs earned automatic The diff
f erence now is thaat Brest,
qualification for the expanded Champions Bologna, Girona an nd Stuttgart have
League, being rewarded with trips to some all lost their stars before theey’ve eveen
of the world’s most famed football stadia. kicked a Champion ns League ball and,
Girona, who are embarking on their arguably, go into th he compeetition
maiden European season, will travel weaker than last season.
to the San Siro and Parc des Princes, All bar Brest havve lost th
heir top
while Stuttgart will visit Juventus and scorers: Stuttgart’ss 28-goal striker
Real Madrid. Brest also face holders Serhou Guirassy moved north to
Madrid, alongside a trip to Barcelona, Dortmund, while Girona’s Artem
with Bologna taking on Benfica, Dovbyk and Bologgna’s Joshua Zir zee Pichichi winner…
Artem Dovbyk was
Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool. joined Roma and Manchestter United d the top scorer in La
Naturally, players have always aspired respectively – two clubs no ot even in Liga last season

36 WORLD SOCCER
 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

this season’s Champions League.

Meanwhile in defence, Stuttgart have
lost half their back four from last season,
with Waldemar Anton joining Guirassy
at the Westfalenstadion and Hiroki Ito
moving to Bayern Munich. Without them,
they conceded six goals in their opening
two Bundesliga games. Bologna said
farewell to shining light and Italy
international Riccardo Calafiori, who
joined Arsenal, and Lilian Brassier left
Brest for Marseille – another club not
in this year’s Champions League.
It almost prompts the question: why
perform well enough to earn a shot in
Europe if doing so will only lead to your
squad being plundered?
Each club used the loan market
to help with last season’s success, and
have built on that by acquiring some
of those players permanently. Stuttgart
spent €27m to retain Deniz Undav from
Brighton, who scored 18 Bundesliga
goals for them last season. Brest
re-signed Kamory Doumbia from Reims,
while Bologna made Swiss midfielder
Remo Freuler – previously loaned from Augsburg striker Ermedin Demirovic, Exit door…Joshua departed manager Thiago Motta
Nottingham Forest – permanent. with Bologna forking out €15m for Zirkzee and Thiago was unbeaten with Juventus.
Motta both departed
However, in other cases loanees have Toulouse forward Thijs Dallinga and Bologna this summer Stuttgart were also winless, with a
not returned. Girona lost Eric Garcia, Girona splashing a combined €32m 3-1 defeat to Freiburg and 3-3 draw at
Savinho and Yan Couto, who returned to on Abel Ruiz (Braga), Bojan Miovski home to Mainz. It is a similar story for
Barcelona, Troyes and Manchester City (Aberdeen) and Yaser Asprilla Brest who, while recording a 4-0 victory
respectively. Alexis Saelemaekers, on (Watford). over newly-promoted Saint-Etienne, lost
loan at Bologna last season, is now with Although still early days, by the their opening Ligue 1 game of the new
Dovbyk at Roma, while Martin Satriano campaign 5-1 at
(Internazionale) and Billal Brahimi Brest, Bologna, Girona and Stuttgart have all home to Marseille,
(Nice) both failed to return to Brest. followed by a 2-0
It is another way in which these
lost their stars before they’ve even kicked a defeat at ten-man
sides struggle to bridge the gap to Champions League ball Lens.
the elite. While they can strengthen Girona are the
with loan signings, they then have to September international break the exception, with two wins over Osasuna
spend big money the following season signs were not encouraging. Bologna and Sevilla, but even then, a 3-0 defeat
just to stand still. were yet to win a Serie A game under to Atletico Madrid on the opening day
While clubs cannot be expected to new coach Vincenzo Italiano, sitting in On the move… is another ominous sign. The Catalans
unsustainably squander big sums, they 18th place after two 1-1 home draws Serhou Guirassy and are in a slightly better position given
Waldemar Anton both
have moved to try to replace departing with Udinese and Empoli to go with a swapped Stuttgart for their ownership by City Football
stars. Stuttgart also spent €21m on 3-0 defeat at Napoli. By contrast, their Borussia Dortmund Group, recruiting Champions League
experience in the form of Arnaut
Danjuma, Donny van de Beek,
Pau Lopez and Oriol Romeu.
All four clubs can take hope from
Lens last season, who won two group
games – against Arsenal and Sevilla –
despite losing top scorer Lois Openda
and club captain Seko Fofana. Another
benefit could be found in dugout
stability, with only Bologna losing the
coach responsible for working last
season’s miracles.
However, such is the turnover of
personnel, all four clubs have at least
nine new players to integrate. With the
Champions League now underway,
Bologna, Brest, Girona and Stuttgart
needed time to come together that
they simply didn’t have. Amidst the
unforgiving territory of the Champions
League, the competition’s surprise
packages could be brought back
down to earth very quickly.

WORLD SOCCER 37
 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2024-25

The Favourites
ARSENAL
Time to deliver
Last season, their first Champions the Gunners in recent times, with four
League campaign in seven long years, different players – Oleksandr Zinchenko,
the Gunners would have been satisfied Jurrien Timber, Jakub Kiwior and Takehiro
with a last-eight terminus, albeit with an Tomiyasu – deployed there last term.
unmistakable sense of regret that they
did not do themselves justice in the COACH Do Arsenal suffer from the lack
quarter-final loss to Bayern Munich. Mikel Arteta of a genuine centre-forward?
Now in his fifth full
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta can season at Arsenal, the
It’s an oft-heard argument, though not
only hope that his charges have fully ex-Manchester City exactly compelling. Versatility in attack
absorbed the lessons from that 3-2 assistant wakes at is a fundamental belief for Arteta, who
dawn every day with
aggregate loss to the Bavarians: the False nine...
winning on his mind.
prefers all-purpose forwards that can
costly moments of defensive inattention Kai Havertz both create and score. Every player
and lack of conviction going forward, an KEY MAN chips in with goals, while false nine
Martin Odegaard
altogether rare occurrence for the North Arteta may have a point; his squad Kai Havertz improved immeasurably
Alarm bells rang at
Londoners. When Bayern upped the is relatively inexperienced. However, the Emirates after he as last season progressed.
tempo and intensity in the second half we are talking small margins here and injured his ankle on
of the second leg at the Allianz Arena, in terms of sheer talent, Arsenal have Norway duty. The Should star winger Bukayo
Gunners’ skipper is a
Arsenal’s response was surprisingly flat more than enough to push on in Europe. complete midfielder. Saka be rotated more often?
considering the high stakes at play. In the latter part of last season, it was
YOUNGSTER
Arteta suggested after the match Where is new signing Riccardo clear that Saka, if not running on empty,
Ethan Nwaneri
that his side still had to acquire the Calafiori likely to line up? Cultured midfielder was far from his sharpest. In the last two
game-management smarts and killer Despite featuring at centre-back for who became the seasons alone, the wide-man has racked
instincts of the European elite, that Bologna and Italy, the 22-year-old club’s youngest-ever up over 100 games for club and country.
debutant in 2022
it could take up to a decade to truly is expected to be used at left-back, aged just 15 years Raheem Sterling’s deadline-day signing
become operational at this level. somewhat of a problem position for and 181 days. should help ease the burden somewhat.

MANCHESTER CITY
Pep’s final tilt at the trophy?
The history books say that Real Madrid suspension, City looking out of sorts and
Hungry for
emerged triumphant in two of the last more...City’s losing to both Wolves and Arsenal. While
three Champions League editions, yet superstars Mateo Kovacic hardly covered himself in
what has often gone unnoticed is how glory at the time, he now appears much
close Pep Guardiola’s side came to more comfortable in that deep midfield
outdoing Real’s achievements. COACH role – as proven at the start of this term.
City lifted the cup in 2022-23 – their Pep Guardiola
If this is to be his
one and only success in the competition last year, he would
Who could be City’s breakout player?
– and twice suffered the heartbreak of dearly love to sign While not exactly over the hill, England’s
business-end elimination at the hands off with a fourth Kyle Walker may well be approaching
Champions League
of Los Blancos: first, conceding three the point when he faces real competition
crown – only Carlo
post-90 minute goals in a remarkable Ancelotti has more. for the right-back berth from youngster
semi-final collapse in 2022, and then Rico Lewis. Although not the most
KEY MAN
losing on penalties to Real in last term’s physical of specimens, Lewis offers so
Phil Foden
quarter-final. Add the shock defeat to The England man put much more going forward, especially
Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea in the 2020-21 creativity of Kevin De Bruyne and Phil in a scintillating shift bright and inventive coming inside.
final and City could easily have won each Foden, and the goals of Erling Haaland. in the first half of last
term when Kevin De
of the last four continental crowns. In what could be Pep’s last season in Bruyne fell injured. Did City make a mistake in allowing
Somehow, some way, they have charge, no one will need any motivating. Julian Alvarez to join Atletico Madrid?
YOUNGSTER
to find a way to pragmatically seal the Quite possibly. Either deputising for
Savinho
deal when it matters most in Europe. Are City automatically weaker Quick, direct and so striker extraordinaire Haaland or as an
It should not take much to rectify. They without star midfielder Rodri? elusive, the Brazilian impact substitute, the Argentine World
have one of the best coaching minds in That was certainly the case when the wing wizard should Cup winner invariably delivered in his
be a sensation in his
Guardiola, Europe’s number one holding Spanish ace missed a couple of Premier inaugural Champions short-time role, contributing 36 goals
midfielder in the form of Rodri, the League games in October 2023 through League season. and 18 assists in two seasons at City.

38 WORLD SOCCER
 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

REAL MADRID
Galacticos 2.0
When it comes to the most valuable
prize in European club football, Los
Blancos never seem to lose that
insatiable hunger and unshakeable
belief. Only a few months after securing
their 15th European Cup/Champions
League – a proud record which leaves
the best of the rest trailing in their wake
– the Bernabeu crew already have their
sights on further continental dominance,
their permanent quest for hegemony
underscored by the recent acquisition
of France superstar Kylian Mbappe.
A new era of the Galacticos should
send a shudder of fear through any
opponent. In Mbappe, Jude Bellingham
and Vinicius Jr, they have an offensive
trifecta for the ages and while they will
certainly miss the brilliant distribution
and tempo-setting qualities of the now
retired German midfield general Toni
Kroos, the chances are that Real will
achieve ample compensation with a
beefed-up counter-attacking threat.
As important as their world-class
roster and the wiles of much-travelled
coach Carlo Ancelotti is Real’s steely
mentality. Often seemingly on the
ropes, only to find a way to hit back
and prevail. A priceless attribute.

Which area of the team is generating

the most concern at the moment?
Undoubtedly central defence. Austria
international David Alaba may not be
back before 2025 after damaging
cruciate ligaments and the ever-trusty
Nacho is now playing in the Saudi Pro
League with Al Qadsiah. Nacho, at the
club for over two decades, appeared
in 45 games in all competitions last
campaign, deputising for Alaba,
Eder Militao and Antonio Rudiger.
COACH
How will Real fit Mbappe, Vinicius and
Carlo Ancelotti
There’s no better
Bellingham into a functional system?
manager of elite How indeed. Early indications are that
egos than Carletto, Carlo Ancelotti will favour a 4-2-3-1
a record five-time
Champions League
template with Mbappe up top, Vinicius
winning coach. floating with menace from the left, and
Bellingham operating as a number ten.
KEY MAN
Kylian Mbappe
Rotation, though, is highly likely; Mbappe
This is the moment prefers to play off the left flank, while
the glamour boy Bellingham scored at will as a false nine
of the French game
has been waiting for
in the La Liga-Champions League double.
for years, a palpable
opportunity to strike Who could be Real’s supersub?
gold in Europe’s
As he proved at Euro 2024, teenage
premier club
competition. Turkish winger or attacking midfielder
Arda Guler is a special talent that can
YOUNGSTER
make a big impact. He may even come
Endrick
Boy wonder Brazilian into his own as a starter on the right
striker who has been flank, taking over from Rodrygo. Yet,
compared to Eden with Luka Modric, Brahim Diaz, Eduardo
Hazard by Real
keeper Thibaut Camavinga, Endrick and Dani Ceballos
New Galactico...Kylian Mbappe has been added to Real Madrid’s frontline Courtois. also in reserve, the depth is frightening.

WORLD SOCCER 39
 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2024-25

The Heavyweights
AT L E T I C O M A D R I D
Back to Simeone basics
Clearly dissatisfied with fourth place In which area must Atletico
in last season’s La Liga – the first time improve above all others?
they have slipped out of the top three The mean and moody defence, which
in Diego Simeone’s 13 years as coach used to be a red-and-white-striped
– the Colchoneros spent the off-season trademark, morphed into an open door
splashing the cash on reinforcements COACH for much of last season, conceding a
and releasing a number of big earners. Diego Simeone wholly unacceptable 43 goals in La Liga.
Atleti’s leaders... In his 13th year at
High-profile strikers Alvaro Morata Diego Simeone Atleti and on course
The €30m signing of Le Normand, who
and Memphis Depay both left; Spain and Antoine to displace Real was so central to Spain’s Euro 2024
centre-back Robin Le Normand was Griezmann Madrid’s Miguel success, will go some way to battening
Munoz as Spain’s
lured away from Real Sociedad, while longest-serving
down the hatches. So would an injury
the attack was boosted by two new faces French playmaker Antoine Griezmann, coach (16 years). free season for Jose Maria Gimenez.
at considerable expense: Norway striker 33. If the pair end up on the same
KEY MAN
Alexander Sorloth, who enjoyed the best wavelength, Atleti will be in business. Julian Alvarez
Who could be their European
season of his career with Villarreal last A wonderful finisher, revelation in the months ahead?
term, and Argentine Julian Alvarez, who Which Atleti player especially needs he had a successful The smart money would be on the
trial with Real Madrid
left the Etihad for the Metropolitano in a a strong European campaign? at the age of 11, only
21-year-old academy graduate Pablo
whopping €95 million deal. In a classic Griezmann, a genuine world-beating to be thwarted by Barrios who, after spending most of
Simeone move, energetic Chelsea attacking-third chameleon, surprisingly bureaucracy. last season’s Champions League on
midfielder Conor Gallagher also arrived failed to show up at Euro 2024, so YOUNGSTER the bench, now appears to be making
– to be instantly nicknamed “pitbull”. unimpressive that he was dropped for Giuliano Simeone himself indispensable to Simeone. One
One of Simeone’s most significant France’s semi-final loss to Spain. Strange, Son of Diego, the of the cornerstones of Spain’s gold
issues in the Champions League will be given that he was Atletico’s best player 21-year-old forward medallists at the 2024 Paris Olympics,
is now a permanent
to get the best out of attacking-third by far last season, scoring 24 goals member of Atleti’s he is a midfielder with limitless stamina,
superheroes Alvarez and the veteran including six in the Champions League. senior squad. bite in the tackle and outstanding vision.

BAY E R N M U N I C H
Bounceback needed
Last season was an undeniable disaster Will the signing of Joao Palhinha
for the usually omnipotent Bavarians, give Bayern more balance?
finishing third in the Bundesliga after The arrival of the Portugal international,
11 straight titles and going trophyless a genuine holding midfielder, fills the gap
for the first time since 2011-12. which many – most notably former
At the Allianz Arena, such a campaign COACH Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel – were
will always prompt talk of crisis. But it’s Vincent Kompany endlessly decrying last term. Palhinha is
Welcome Bayern are banking
worth noting that even in the midst of on the benefits of
a high quality enforcer and will provide
to Bayern
the car crash that was last term, Bayern ...Vincent Kompany’s past as much needed protection to the backline,
still reached the Champions League last Kompany with Pep Guardiola’s especially centre-backs Kim Min-jae
Thomas Muller commanding
four and might even have beaten Real lieutenant.
and Dayot Upamecano who have
Madrid there, denied a late winning goal looked shaky in recent times.
KEY MAN
by a controversial offside call. In both ties, How will Bayern play under
Harry Kane
Bayern were very much the equal of Real, new coach Vincent Kompany? That the England
Do Bayern have a reliability
proof that they are not a spent force. Changes and lots of them had to be skipper netted 44 problem in the attacking third?
Few head coaches in Europe are under the order of the day at Bayern after goals last season for While Bayern can count on striker Harry
such a dysfunctional
more scrutiny than Bayern’s new boss the chaos of last term: the lack of Kane and young attacking midfielder
Bayern side speaks
Vincent Kompany. Last season, his one movement, changes of rhythm and for itself. Jamal Musiala to deliver, the same cannot
and only campaign as a Premier League creativity, the interminable build-up be said of others. Winger Kingsley Coman
YOUNGSTER
manager, he could not prevent Burnley’s sequences, and the difficulties when and multi-purpose forward Serge Gnabry
Aleksandar Pavlovic
relegation. His only European experience encountering a meaty press. Kompany The holding midfielder have been regularly sidelined by injury,
came in failing to reach the Conference will be looking for more directness, starred last season, and winger Leroy Sane is just as capable
League group stage with Anderlecht in aggression and intensity, snappier and the 20-year-old of being world-class as peripheral. The
will be even hungrier
2021-22, and he has never coached interplay in tight spots and a man- after missing Euro onus is on another new boy, Michael
in the Champions League. to-man press all over the pitch. 2024 through injury. Olise, to step up to the plate.

40 WORLD SOCCER
 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

L I V E R P OO L
Life after Klopp
Just as well that the Reds’ new head Is striker Darwin Nunez
Kop welcome...
coach Arne Slot is both a confident Slot salutes living on borrowed time?
character and renowned for his abilities Anfield Despite accumulating 18 goals and
as a communicator. Stepping into the 13 assists for Liverpool last season, the
Liverpool managerial hot seat is a Uruguay striker generally did not have
challenging trial by fire environment at the best of times, missing many good
the best of times, but especially so when chances, often offside and ending the
following an icon like Jurgen Klopp, who campaign on a ten-game goal drought.
stepped down after nine years in May. On his day he is capable of wreaking
Slot, previously in the Eredivisie with havoc in opposition defences with his
AZ and Feyenoord, knows only too well COACH pace and explosiveness, but until he
that he has big shoes to fill. Not only did Arne Slot becomes more clinical he will remain
Dutch football’s
his predecessor win trophies and thrill Coach of the Year in
behind Mo Salah, Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz
supporters with his dynamic full-throttle 2022 and 2023, the and Cody Gakpo in the pecking order.
brand of attacking football, Klopp – like second after expertly
leading Feyenoord to
the great Bill Shankly – formed a deep the Eredivisie title.
Could Liverpool’s unresolved
connection with the Anfield crowd with contracts prove a distraction?
his aura and passion. KEY MAN Liverpool began the season with
Mohamed Salah
Not someone who appears to be arguably their three most influential
Liverpool’s record
afraid of ghosts, Slot has wisely set out scorer in Europe, outfielders – Trent Alexander-Arnold,
to be his own man, insisting that his job How does Arne Slot’s style of surpassing Steven Virgil van Dijk and Salah – all in the
on Merseyside will be one of evolution play differ to Jurgen Klopp’s? Gerrard’s tally of 42 last year of their contracts. In the case
in 2023 and now
rather than radical alterations. Continuity Slot favours possession-based football closing in on 50. of the latter two, the club hierarchy
will be the name of the game this term – a shift from Klopp’s “heavy metal” seem reluctant to offer significant
YOUNGSTER
and one of Slot’s main tasks will be to high-intensity pressing game – with a deals to players over 30, while Trent
Harvey Elliott
oversee the development of the club’s touch more structure to the way he sets Diminutive and crafty has attracted interest from Real Madrid.
numerous young guns, a pool of talent up his team to attack, preferring to use left-footer adept on Resolutions are needed; replacing all
which should benefit enormously from more choreographed patterns of play. the right side or in three would be near-impossible, and
a box-to-box role,
the club’s return to the Champions Slot is a little less aggressive although, but at his best as a any kind of “long goodbye” would be
League after a year’s absence. like his predecessor, loves a turnover. creative number ten. hugely unhelpful for Slot and his team.

INTERNAZIONALE
Italy’s finest
Wesley Sneijder, the Dutch playmaker buying with outgoing transfer income.
at the heart of Inter’s last Champions Tellingly, Inter’s most significant signings
League title, under Jose Mourinho in of the summer were both free transfers:
2009-10, recently opined that while Poland midfielder Piotr Zielinski (Napoli)
he was confident of the Nerazzurri and Iran striker Mehdi Taremi (Porto).
retaining their Serie A title, he had
a feeling they might struggle in Can Inter maintain last
the Champions League this term. season’s defensive solidity?
Sneijder might be overdoing the It will be hard to emulate those bank
pessimism somewhat. Fresh from COACH vault efforts, letting in a mere 22 goals
totally dominating Serie A in 2023-24 Simone Inzaghi in Serie A and only conceding five in
Since arriving at
– finishing the campaign a colossal 19 the San Siro in 2021,
six Champions League group phase
points ahead of second-placed city the ex-Lazio striker fixtures. Time waits for no one and in
rivals Milan – Inter should not be short has re-established central defence especially, the limbs
Inter as a club
of confidence and have several factors Playmaker... are creaking a little; see the thirty-
Hakan Calhanoglu of European
in their favour: the tactical shrewdness dimensions. something pair of Francesco Acerbi
of coach Simone Inzaghi, a settled (36) and Stefan de Vrij (32).
KEY MAN
line-up that combines collective What has changed at Inter since
Lautaro Martinez
cohesion and individual game- US-based investors Oaktree Capital The Argentina front Do they have the strength in
changers like Turkish playmaker took over as owners this summer man is already eighth depth to cope with the extra
Hakan Calhanoglu, midfield maestro from the Chinese Suning Group? in Inter’s all-time Champions League workload?
scoring charts and
Nicolo Barella and skipper and striker The new name on the title deeds, continuing to climb. No problems on this score; Inzaghi
Lautaro Martinez, the top scorer in triggered when Suning defaulted on effectively has two teams of high quality
YOUNGSTER
Serie A last season with 24 goals. a €395m debt repayment, has not in his squad. New boys Zielinski and
Yann Bisseck
It’s also worth remembering that particularly altered the financial situation Legendary ex-Inter Taremi, both class acts, are far from
only 16 months ago, the black-and- at the club. For the past three years, and Italy defender assured of a starting slot, while central
blues were Champions League Suning were on an economy drive and Beppe Bergomi rates midfielder Davide Frattesi and versatile
the 23-year-old
runners-up, not a million miles from Oaktree will continue on that path, German centre-back left-footed Brazilian Carlos Augusto are
upsetting Manchester City in the final. insisting on low-cost signings and only extremely highly. knocking loudly on the first-team door.

WORLD SOCCER 41
 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2024-25

The Heavyweights
PA R I S SA I N T- G E R M A I N
A new and youthful project
Even with Kylian Mbappe firing on all With Mbappe gone, do the Parisians
Next Parisian
cylinders, Paris Saint-Germain tried and icon...Warren boast sufficient firepower?
failed to win the Champions League on Zaire-Emery Any team that loses a 40-goal-a-
seven different occasions – so why season forward will, inevitably, suffer.
would they fare any better now their But Mbappe’s exit was compounded
talismanic record scorer has left? COACH by Portugal striker Goncalo Ramos
Asked by a journalist who the team’s Luis Enrique damaging an ankle in the opening
The Asturian is as
new superstar would be, PSG president single-minded as
game of the season, keeping him out
Nasser Al Khelaifi replied: “The team.” a coach as he was until November. The injury could not
As far as the Parc des Princes decision- when starring for have come at a worse time and while
Real Madrid and
makers are concerned, Mbappe simply Barcelona.
his back-up Randal Kolo Muani is no
cannot be replaced, leading to the mean finisher, he can blow hot and cold.
KEY MAN
conclusion that a more collective Wingers Ousmane Dembele and Bradley
Vitinha
solution is the best plan. What lessons will PSG take from last The all-action
Barcola need to up their strike-rate too.
Al Khelaifi is adamant that coach season’s semi-final loss to Dortmund? midfielder has
Luis Enrique, who led Barcelona to the Yes, PSG had the gods against them, developed into a Can PSG prosper with so many kids?
hugely influential
Champions League title in 2014-15, is hitting the woodwork six times over the PSG standard-
Luis Enrique certainly thinks so. On the
the man to finally end their sequence course of the 180 minutes, but they only bearer. opening day of the Ligue 1 campaign,
of near-misses. had themselves to blame. They were not he fielded PSG’s youngest-ever starting
YOUNGSTER
PSG’s emphasis on youth in their only eliminated because of bad luck or a line-up (average age 22 years and 182
Joao Neves
summer transfer business reflects the lack of clinical end-product. Surprisingly PSG recently paid days) in a 4-1 victory away to Le Havre.
new ethos, with the arrivals of prospects for a game of such magnitude, the French Benfica €60m for Enrique had no hesitation, for example,
like Portugal midfielder Joao Neves, 20, champions seemed to lack conviction the midfielder’s in throwing full-back Yoram Zague, 18,
intelligence, pressing
left-winger Desire Doue, 19, and Ecuador and were far too slow in shifting into game, energy and and 16-year-old French winger Ibrahim
centre-back Willian Pacho, 22. attacking high gear in transitions. creativity. Mbaye right in at the deep end.

BORUSSIA DORTMUND
Runners-up re-booted
Dortmund’s unexpected appearance Atmospheric...
surprising second-place finish in last
in last season’s Champions League Dortmund’s season’s Bundesliga, while 21-year-old
final, where they gave Real Madrid an Yellow Wall forward Maximilian Beier fired Hoffenheim
almighty fright before succumbing late into the European spots with 16 goals.
on, now seems to be something of a
check-point between past and future. COACH Is Pascal Gross, signed from Brighton,
Since that gallant defeat at Wembley Nuri Sahin the answer in Dortmund’s midfield?
The Champions
there has been change at all levels, with League is not
Dortmund certainly needed someone in
former midfield star Lars Ricken – who unfamiliar territory the middle of the park to efficiently pull
famously scored in Dortmund’s victory for the former the strings, take care of possession and
Dortmund and Real
over Juventus in the 1997 Champions Madrid playmaker.
pass through the opposition press. Gross
League final – setting into his new role has the technical ability, intelligence and
as managing director, ex-club playmaker KEY MAN
vision to more than fill that brief – the
Gregor Kobel
Nuri Sahin taking over from Edin Terzic Was it wise to allow striker Niclas Exceptional Swiss
only concern is his injury record.
as head coach, and iconic players Mats Fullkrug to leave for West Ham? goalkeeper, whose
Hummels and Marco Reus both being As far as the the Dortmund bean- chief assets are his Can new coach Nuri Sahin hit
massive presence,
allowed to leave on free transfers. counters were concerned, an offer of the ground running this term?
shot-stopping ability
That’s a revolution in anyone’s £27m for a 31-year-old was simply too and consistency. During a spell in charge of unfashionable
book, though probably necessary; at good to turn down. But the team will Turkish side Antalyaspor, Sahin showed a
YOUNGSTER
the same time as the Schwarz-Gelben certainly miss the burly target man, a great deal of technical area potential. But
Jamie
were beating the likes of Newcastle, player of huge physical presence with Bynoe-Gittens he has never coached in a top European
Milan, PSV, Atletico Madrid and PSG last a knack of putting the ball in the net at England U21 winger league and has lost many of last season’s
term, domestically they rarely convinced, crucial moments. Yet in replacing him, who Sahin describes Champions League aces: Fullkrug, Reus,
as being “brutal”
more than a little fortunate to secure Dortmund have recruited well: Serhou in one-v-one Hummels, Jadon Sancho and Ian Maatsen.
a fifth-place finish in the Bundesliga. Guirassy scored 28 goals in Stuttgart’s situations. This season will be a big test for him.

42 WORLD SOCCER
 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

BA RC E L O N A
Big problems yet bigger dreams
“From my first day here, I’ve felt the Spaniard’s arrival would also have reduced
Top talent...
passion of the fans,” gushed incoming Lamine Yamal Gundogan’s chances of regular football.
Barca coach Hansi Flick on arriving in
the Catalan metropolis. But, as the former Could we see a rejuvenated Robert
Bayern Munich and Germany boss knows Lewandowski at the point of attack?
only too well, such emotional outpourings It’s true to say that the Poland striker,
for the game can quickly turn to 36, was mightily relieved to see Flick
supporter frustration and discontent. take over as Barca coach. There were
Expectations are rarely contained rumours – before he himself left the
or managed in these parts and in club – that former boss Xavi was willing
Europe particularly, Flick, who won COACH to offload Lewandowski to the Saudi Pro
the Champions League with Bayern Hansi Flick League. By way of contrast, Flick, who
Barca have wanted
in 2019-20, is under severe pressure the German ever
coached the striker for two years at
to deliver. For a club of Barcelona’s since they lost 8-2 to Bayern, is a massive fan of the Pole.
global stature, only one quarter-final his Bayern side in the
2020 Champions
appearance in the last four campaigns League quarter-final.
Is “Made in La Masia” set to
is an embarrassment. Compared to the become a trend this season?
all-conquering Pep Guardiola reign of KEY MAN With insufficient funds for transfer
Lamine Yamal
a decade-and-a-half ago, the club decadence, an inevitable consequence
Expectations of the
has slumped into soap opera territory. Why did Ilkay Gundogan only last teenage winger will is more first-team chances for academy
Still hampered by a bright red balance 12 months at Barca before returning be sky-high after graduates. Barca’s line-up for their first
sheet and forced by the redevelopment to Manchester City in August? his starring role La Liga fixture of the season featured a
in Spain’s triumph
of the Camp Nou to continue hosting Club president Joan Laporta has said that at Euro 2024. swathe of locally-produced young talents:
games at the Montjuic Olympic stadium Gundogan’s departure was for sporting centre-back Pau Cubarsi, midfielders
YOUNGSTER
this autumn, the challenges facing Flick reasons, but for cash-strapped Barca it Marc Casado and Marc Bernal and, of
Pau Cubarsi
are clear. And just to make his task even undoubtedly also provided an opportunity Highly talented course, Euro 2024 sensation Lamine
harder, central defender Ronald Araujo to remove a big earner from the wage centre-back who last Yamal. But the club must be cautious –
and midfield starlet Gavi will miss the bill. New signing Dani Olmo, the former season became the Bernal too has since been struck down
youngest player in a
first few months of the season with RB Leipzig attacking midfielder, was only Champions League by the ACL curse, so they will need to
hamstring and ACL injuries respectively. registered after Gundogan’s exit, and the quarter-final. carefully manage youngsters’ minutes.

JUVENTUS
Motta bene?
To say this is a vital campaign for Juve to one match in charge of PSG’s U19s
Juve’s new boss
would be an obvious understatement. ...Thiago Motta in the 2018-19 UEFA Youth League.
After four years without a Serie A
title and repeated slim pickings in Which players have been brought
the Champions League – just three in to help bolster the squad?
appearances in the final this century In his second season as technical
(runners-up to Milan in 2002-03, director, Cristiano Giuntoli has had a
Barcelona in 2014-15 and Real Madrid busy summer. At the back, goalkeeper
in 2016-17) – the Old Lady, once a Michele Di Gregorio, on loan from
by-word for untrammelled power COACH Monza, is the new man between the
and influence, desperately needs Thiago Motta sticks with Colombian left-back Juan
The former Barca
to reburnish her credentials. and PSG midfielder
Cabal joining from Verona. The midfield
Banned from last season’s Europa has come a long way has had a serious injeciton of dynamism
Conference League for breaching Bologna from also-rans into much- since lasting only ten from Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa), Teun
games as Genoa
UEFA’s Financial Fair Play rules, Juve praised Champions League qualifiers. Koopmeiners (Atalanta) and young
coach in 2019.
will be simply itching to once again go Frenchman Khephren Thuram (Nice),
head-to-head with great and the good How inflated are the expectations KEY MAN while loan signings Francisco Conceicao
of the continent. As six-time winners of Thiago Motta at Juventus? Kenan Yildiz (Porto) and Nico Gonzalez (Fiorentina)
The teenage Turk
of European competitions, including As one of the brightest, most innovative can and must be will replace the flair lost by Federico
two triumphs in the Champions young coaches in Europe, the Brazil- Juve’s number ten Chiesa’s departure for Liverpool.
League, Juventus see themselves as born Italian has set the bar very high this season. Lights up
proceedings with his
a brand comparable to the likes of a indeed. Already there is talk of him inventiveness. Of the current squad, who has the
Real Madrid or a Manchester United. instantly bringing back the Juve glory most to prove in the months ahead?
YOUNGSTER
The challenge now is to live up to days, not only securing silverware for Serbia striker Dusan Vlahovic cost
Samuel Mbangula
the history and, to spark the hoped- the Bianconeri, but also making Juve fun A surprise selection €80m when signed from Fiorentina in
for renaissance, they recently handed to watch again after the dour defence- on the left wing in early 2022 but has, for the most part,
the coaching reins to former Italy minded tendencies of his predecessor Juve’s opening game not looked worth the outlay. That said,
of the season, the
midfielder Thiago Motta who, over Max Allegri. That’s a lot to ask of a coach 20-year-old Belgian he has been living off scraps in a rather
the last two seasons, transformed whose European experience stretches is a big talent. pedestrian attacking system.

WORLD SOCCER 43
 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2024-25

The Dark Horses

BAY E R L E V E R K U S E N
Another Alonso masterclass?
In the ambitious world of Leverkusen’s Will opponents copy the tactical
brilliant young boss Xabi Alonso, football approach of Atalanta which led to
is all about the next frontier. So much Leverkusen’s only defeat of 2023-24?
for the sensational achievements of last It would be amazing if no one employed
season – the first Bundesliga title in the the anti-Leverkusen plan of Atalanta
club’s history and going unbeaten in the COACH boss Gian Piero Gasperini, namely the
process; the DFB-Pokal Cup win and a Xabi Alonso aggressive man-to-man press which
Excellent in his
silver medal in the Europa League – what teaching methods,
completely unsettled Xabi Alonso’s
matters to the Spanish boss is building on man-management charges. Atalanta’s high-intensity
that incredible platform, not complacently and tactical options, pressure on the ball forced the Werkself
he has changed the
sitting back and basking in past glories. On the march...
entire football
into rushed passes, thus preparing the
Motivation certainly won’t be a problem Bayer Leverkusen ground for rapid counter-attacks.
culture here.
in Europe this term. Leverkusen have
KEY MAN
not qualified for the knockout phase of How does Leverkusen’s current Is Xabi Alonso likely to introduce
Granit Xhaka
the Champions League since 2016-17 squad compare to last season’s? The outstanding any changes to his playing system?
(beaten in the last 16 by Atletico Madrid) Apart from the departure of on-loan Swiss midfielder Now that the element of surprise no
and all at the BayArena will be champing defender Josip Stanisic – who returned embodies the side’s longer applies, Alonso is sure to come
never-say-die spirit,
at the bit to go even further and become to Bayern Munich – the Rhinelander boldness and smart up with a few wrinkles to his dynamic
an elite continental outfit. managed to retain all the other fairy- distribution. and flexible playbook. These might
Their 3-0 defeat to Atalanta in last tale heroes. Even Germany centre- YOUNGSTER involve more use of a false nine and
term’s Europa League final will also help back Jonathan Tah eventually stayed Jeanuel Belocian modifications to the way key wide-men
to maintain focus. That defeat in Dublin put, despite interest from Bayern who, 19-year-old left- Alex Grimaldo and Jeremie Frimpong
still stings, and a positive outcome in the according to reports, agreed terms with back or centre-back are utilised. For the most part, it will be
signed from Rennes
Champions League is the ideal way to the defender only to pull out of the deal earlier this summer. the same mix of gegenpressing, patient
get it out of their system. – much to the irritation of Leverkusen. A snip at €15m. possession and fast counters.

SPORTING
Amorim’s dream team
Portugal’s reigning champions seem Where does the bulk of Sporting’s
in a strong position to make Champions attacking threat come from?
League hay in their backyard over the Out wide is where Sporting are especially
next few months. Unbeaten in all 17 potent, with Mozambique wing-back
league games at home last season, Geny Catamo providing a dazzling range
they would love their Jose Alvalade COACH of skills on either flank and right-winger
stadium to be a fortress in Europe too. Ruben Amorim Francisco Trincao, a huge disappointment
Having been linked
Since the turn of the century, Sporting with the Liverpool
in spells at Barcelona and Wolverhampton
have only qualified for the Champions and West Ham jobs, Wanderers, tying full-backs in knots with
League knockout rounds twice, reaching this could be his last his quick feet. Star man Pote, in a free
season at Sporting.
the last 16 in 2008-09 and 2021-22. Top coach... role, regularly floats to the flanks too.
But do not write them off. After two Ruben Amorim KEY MAN
Portuguese league titles in four seasons, Pedro Goncalves How much will centre-back
there is a vibe of confidence and renewal Who is Sporting’s most AKA “Pote”, a highly Sebastian Coates be missed
intelligent amalgam
at the club, with their excellent coach underrated performer? of second striker, after his move back to Uruguay?
Ruben Amorim still making all the right The conversation inevitably would lead attacking midfielder Plenty. Coates, now aged 33, was initially
calls. For many long-term observers of to the often undetected merits of Danish and winger – not something of a hit-or-miss defender,
to mention a
the Portuguese game, this is one of the midfield enforcer Morten Hjulmand, who goalscorer. tough and abrasive, but prone to the odd
best Sporting sides in years, a team of was snapped up a year ago for €21m lapse. But under Amorim, who arrived at
YOUNGSTER
fluidity, verve and spirit. from Italian outfit Lecce. A leader by Sporting in March 2020, Coates swiftly
Geovany Quenda
Six years after angry Sporting fans example, he plays with drive, vision Another gem from turned into a much more serious and
broke into the club’s training ground and most important of all, imposing Sporting’s academy, uncompromising figure. Academy
to attack the players, the prevailing physicality. He may not slip under the 17-year-old graduate Eduardo Quaresma is the new
winger piled up the
atmosphere is altogether calmer the radar much longer if Sporting can goals in the club’s man in the backline alongside Gonacalo
and more joyous. progress in this season’s competition. youth team. Inacio and Ivorian Ousmane Diomande.

44 WORLD SOCCER
 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

MILAN
New boss under pressure
Most supporters of the Rossoneri not get carried away. Good enough
Marquee signing
would consider Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s ...Alvaro Morata to play for the likes of Real Madrid,
new, ambiguous role at the club as Chelsea, Juventus and Atletico, he
“Operating Partner” or “Senior Advisor certainly knows where the goal is
to the Ownership” as nothing but a and is a fine leader, having skippered
sideshow. What the red-and-black Spain to Euro 2024 glory recently.
faithful are really concerned about
is the credibility of new coach Paulo How does Fonseca solve Milan’s
Fonseca, who took over from the acute defensive deficiencies?
sacked Stefano Pioli this summer. Italian reporters jumped all over it
Milan supporters can be notoriously COACH recently when midfielder Yunus Musah
hard to please. Just a few months ago, Paulo Fonseca revealed that he was not sure whether
Claimed the huge
they successfully petitioned the board Champions League
to initiate the press or pull back. Milan’s
not to appoint the one-time Spain and scalp of Manchester pressing game used to be better
Sevilla boss Julen Lopetegui. And now, City when in charge co-ordinated, as well as more intense.
of Shakhtar in
after a shaky start to the new Serie A December 2017.
Ball-watching is prevalent, and so are
season, they are turning on Fonseca, the wide gaps in Rossoneri territory.
particularly targeting him for the team’s KEY MAN
Rafael Leao
poor defending in a home draw with What was Milan’s top priority
Capable of terrifying
Torino and defeat at newly-promoted any defence with his in their summer of recruitment?
Parma. pace, power and Besides the signing of Morata – whose
Fonseca does have a decent CV. He skill, but needs to €13m release fee was triggered – the
improve his finishing.
won titles galore in a three-year stint name of the game was to inject more
in Ukraine with Shakhtar Donetsk and Have Milan gambled by bringing in YOUNGSTER muscle, height and aggression. Those
coached the Miners in two Champions 31-year-old Spain striker Alvaro Yunus Musah criteria led to Monaco and France
There is plenty more
League campaigns, reaching the last 16 Morata from Atletico Madrid? to come from the powerhouse midfielder Youssouf
in 2017-18. Fonseca’s problem is that It’s true that Morata is currently Spanish 21-year-old USA Fofana, Salzburg’s Serbian centre-back
he is not highly-rated in Italy, labelled football’s most divisive player, relentlessly international Strahinja Pavlovic, former Tottenham
midfielder, who
a flop during a two-season spell with mocked for forever wandering offside joined from right-back Emerson Royal and Tammy
Roma between 2019 and 2021. and missing glaring chances. But let’s Valencia in 2023. Abraham on a year loan from Roma.

AS TO N V I L L A
Back on the biggest stage
Back at the European top table after How must Villa improve
Rebuilt midfield...
41 years of exile, Villa are very much Amadou Onana defensively on last season?
reaping the benefits of their decision With 61 goals conceded in the Premier
in the autumn of 2022 to appoint the League last term, Villa had one of the
highly experienced Basque coach Unai most porous backlines in the division,
Emery who, in less than two seasons much of the fragility stemming from a
in charge, has worked a minor miracle, lack of speed to the rear and the risky
transforming a relegation-threatened high line. When their offside trap came
outfit into Champions League qualifiers. off, they were a scourge of opposition
Little wonder Emery was shortlisted COACH attacks, but when exposed it also left
for the Premier League Manager of the Unai Emery huge gaps. They were also vulnerable
A footballing
Year award last season. Not since 1996 obsessive, noted for
to swift counters and were susceptible
had Villa scaled the heights of a top- drilling his players to turnovers in their own territory.
four finish and it speaks volumes for with tactical analysis
before each game.
Emery’s ability that the Villans will Is it fair to claim that Unai Emery is
become only the 12th English team to KEY MAN merely a Europa League specialist?
play in the Champions League since the Ollie Watkins While the Basque has won the Europa
competition was rebranded in 1992. Followed up on firing League a record four times (three times
Villa to fourth by
No one expects this Villa side to How will Unai Emery fill the gap left scoring England’s with Sevilla and once with Villarreal), his
emulate the European Cup winners of by the departure of Douglas Luiz? late winner against record as a Champions League coach
1982. For all their consistent heroics last The complete engine-room performer, the Netherlands at is none too shabby either. He steered
Euro 2024. Ready
season – spending 150 days in the top Luiz was so influential that two players for his next challenge. Villarreal to the semis in 2021-22 and
four – the talent is spread a little too will be required to replace him. Amadou has a win percentage in the competition
YOUNGSTER
thinly, their high-risk high line can make Onana, a £50m summer signing from of 41.5 – not bad considering that, other
Ian Maatsen
them vulnerable defensively and they Everton, will bring physicality and solid The Dutch left-back than with PSG, most of his previous 53
are bound to miss winger Moussa Diaby distribution, while his fellow Belgian Youri spent last season on games in the competition have been
and midfielder Douglas Luiz, who moved Tielemans – who joined Villa in 2023 – loan at CL finalists with relative underdogs (Valencia, Spartak
Dortmund, before
on in the summer to the Saudi Pro provides control, composure, defence- joining Villa from Moscow, Sevilla and Villarreal) which
League and Juventus respectively. splitting passes and a long-range threat. Chelsea this summer. Villa fans can surely take heart from.

WORLD SOCCER 45
 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2024-25

The Dark Horses

RB LEIPZIG
Part of the Champions League furniture
Only Champions League participants Who could be Leipzig’s
Much-hyped...
since 2017, the Roten Bullen have more Xavi Simons revelation of the season?
than held their own, reaching the last 16 RB have high hopes that 19-year-old
on three occasions and exceeding all Norwegian left-winger Antonio Nusa,
expectations by going all the way to whom they signed this summer for
the semi-finals in 2019-20 under COACH a cool €22m from Club Brugge, will
young coach Julian Nagelsmann. Marco Rose turn out to be worth every penny. Good
Now in his third
This will be their sixth straight year in season, Rose has
enough to make his Champions League
the Champions League and any sense of given RB continuity debut for Brugge at the age of just 17,
foreboding has long since been binned; after the short reigns marking the occasion with a goal against
of Jesse Marsch and
Leipzig believe they belong at this level, Domenico Tedesco.
Porto, Nusa had been tracked by RB
and in much-underrated coach Marco scouts for almost three years.
Rose and such outstanding youngsters KEY MAN
Xavi Simons
as Slovenian striker Benjamin Sesko, How much will Olmo be missed? Is long-serving Hungary keeper
Much-hyped as a
Dutch attacking midfielder Xavi Simons A rising star of the world game, the youngster, a process Peter Gulacsi stil Leipzig’s No.1?
and Austrian holder Nicolas Seiwald clever Catalan can make a difference that did him no Gulacsi, a regular starter for his country,
they have plenty of talent. in all manner of positions: number ten, favours, the attacking will start the new season in pole position
midfielder is finally
Unlike 12 months ago, when they had wide on the left or as a false nine – as looking the real deal. in the RB hierarchy, but will have to work
the heart ripped out of the team - with proved at Euro 2024. Brilliant between hard to see off the threat of Belgian
YOUNGSTER
Josip Gvardiol, Dominik Szoboszlai and the lines and in improvisational mode, understudy Maarten Vandevoordt.
Castello Lukeba
Christopher Nkunku all moving on - their he is nothing less than a genius. Still, he Composed and In 2019, he became the youngest
first-team unit is now settled. The only only played 25 of RB’s 45 games last athletic centre-back goalkeeper in Champions League
departures of note were Spain star Dani term, and has been replaced by 20-year- who has made great history, when he played for Genk at
strides since joining
Olmo (Barcelona) and French centre- old Belgium creative midfielder Arthur RB from Lyon 12 Napoli aged 17 years 287 days, and
back Mohamed Simakan (Al Nassr). Vermeeren, on loan from Atletico Madrid. months ago. arrived in a €10m deal this summer.

P SV
The great entertainers
Shame that PSV are no longer the 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3, Bosz insists that his
major European force they used to be side flood forward, sometimes pushing as
in the 1970s and ’80s, a golden period many as seven players into attacking areas.
when they held aloft both the UEFA Cup
in 1977-78 and the European Cup a What are the weaknesses of such
decade later. The mutation of football COACH an adventurous way of playing?
into big business and the concentration Peter Bosz The knock on Bosz always has been that
Has only won four
of power in a closed circle of European Champions League
his tactics are unnecessarily risky, that
leagues saw the likes of PSV fall down games out of 20 the gung-ho approach leaves his side
the continental pecking order. License to
while in charge of especially vulnerable to counter-attacks.
PSV, Dortmund
But in the Netherlands, they still pack thrill...Johan Up against Eredivisie teams who sit back
and Leverkusen.
a punch, 11 times Eredivisie champions Bakayoko in numbers, there is less likelihood of
this century and regally cruising to the KEY MAN being picked off on the break. When
title last season, a campaign in which In the last decade, PSV have only Joey Veerman facing high quality in the Champions
All-action midfielder
they lost only once. Coach Peter Bosz, reached the Champions League whose excellent League, PSV are far less comfortable.
who had not won a single trophy in 23 knockout phase on two occasions: set-piece delivery,
years, finally struck gold in 2023-24, his the last 16 in 2015-16 and last term. game IQ and passing Can winger Johan Bakayoko maintain
flair has made him a
spectacular philosophy working wonders. Dutch international. his exciting form of last season?
“I’m not so happy for myself that I’ve What are the key elements The Belgium right-winger, an intricate
YOUNGSTER
become a winner in the Eredivisie,” he of Bosz’s playing style? dribbler boasting afterburner speed,
Malik Tillman
declared after PSV clinched the title. Above all, it’s a blueprint for a hungry Attacking midfielder made an immense contribution to
“I’m happier because we played great and hyper-energetic group of players, a who impressed on the PSV cause in 2023-24, scoring 14
football and entertained the fans. That, thoroughly positive agenda featuring an loan from Bayern goals in all competitions and creating the
Munich last season
for me, is more important and beautiful intensive high-pressing game and all-out before signing same number for his team-mates. One
than a title.” attacking approach. Whether using a permanently. man-marker simply can’t contain him.

46 WORLD SOCCER
 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

BENFICA
In need of a new direction
Roger Schmidt, whom Benfica recently solid ball-winners and no slouches
High hopes...
fired as head coach, knows all about the new striker when it comes to securing second balls
highs and lows of holding the reins at Vangelis Pavlidis and pressing, neither brings enough
the Estadio da Luz. While steering the verticality in their passing and the play
club to a thoroughly deserved league is far too pedestrian. Luxembourg ace
title win in 2022-23, he was showered Barreiro, a new signing from German
with praise for the Eagles’ free-flowing outfit Mainz, has more penetrative
attacking football and blockbuster qualities but has not shown them yet.
entertainment. Sadly for the German,
the good times would not last long. What does Lage need to happen
Despite Benfica finishing second in COACH to turn things around quickly?
the Primeira Liga last term, the drop-off Bruno Lage Lage will no doubt be praying that
In his second spell in
in standards were there for all to see, and the Benfica hot-seat,
new Greek striker Vangelis Pavlidis,
with performances even worse in the Lage previously led who arrived this summer in an €18m
early stages of the current campaign, them to a come-from- deal from AZ, quickly finds his shooting
behind league title
Schmidt’s stock had reduced to next to triumph in 2018-19.
boots. It would also be tremendously
zero. As the fans bayed and jeered, club helpful if the German left-winger Jan-
president Rui Costa had no other choice KEY MAN Niklas Beste, a wonderful dead-ball
Anatoliy Trubin
but to put the former PSV, Salzburg and exponent signed from Bundesliga side
Top-class Ukrainian
Leverkusen boss out of his misery. keeper signed a year Heidenheim, hits his stride after injury.
The harsh reality is that Benfica have ago from Shakhtar
simply sold too many key stars in recent Donetsk for a Does the late swoop for Turkey
bargain €10m.
times: striker Goncalo Ramos and wing- Now worth double. ace Kerem Akturkoglu make sense?
back Alex Grimaldo moving to PSG and Will new coach Bruno Lage stick Akturkoglu had an enviable track record
YOUNGSTER
Leverkusen respectively a year ago and with the much-criticised midfield for goals and assists at Galatasaray and
Orkun Kokcu
two more star men exiting this summer: pivot pairing of Florentino Luis A consummate will give Benfica a huge shot in the arm
midfield starlet Joao Neves joining the and Leandro Barreiro? midfield all-rounder with his penetration and commitment. If
Portuguese diaspora at PSG and much Highly unlikely. What better way for a who asked for more he and fellow new boys Renato Sanches
freedom and less
underrated second-striker Rafa Silva new boss to immediately earn himself responsibility under and Zeki Amdouni can work in tandem,
shipping out to Besiktas in Turkey. some brownie points. While the pair are ex-coach Schmidt. the Eagles might well have struck gold.

ATA L A N TA
Europa League champions step up
Only rarely do coaches in Italy have Who could be the next young
Impressive
the luxury of an extended stay at a club, debutant stars to shine for Atalanta?
so hats off to Atalanta boss Gian Piero ...Marco Atalanta beat off stiff competition from
Gasperini who has endured at La Dea Brescianini Napoli to sign 24-year-old midfielder
for eight seasons and counting. Marco Brescianini on loan from
A genuine Italian football pioneer, Frosinone, and he scored twice against
preferring adventure to pragmatism Lecce on his debut. The club’s academy
and never losing faith in his concept also continues to thrive: Marco Palestra
of high-risk, turbo-charged attacking (19), a right-back who has made giant
football, the Silver Fox is quite rightly COACH strides of late, and Alberto Manzoni (19),
regarded as one of the most important Gian Piero Gasperini a midfielder that gave up a promising
Learnt his football
coaching trendsetters in Europe this A-Z as a youth
gymnastics career to concentrate on
century and finally received his palpable teamer at Juventus, football, were both late substitutes in
due when Atalanta claimed the Europa for whom he played the 2-0 defeat to Real Madrid in the
alongside the late,
League last term, beating hot favourites UEFA Super Cup.
great Paolo Rossi.
Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 in the final.
The continuity which Gasperini KEY MAN How difficult are Atalanta
stands for has played a fundamental Ederson to play against?
Often overshadowed
part in Atalanta’s development into a Is there any possibility of Gasperini by Koopmeiners, the It’s no coincidence that such renowned
centre of excellence. But even in this losing his ultra-competitive edge? Brazilian is a mix of coaches as Pep Guardiola and Carlo
stable sporting environment, accidents Hell will probably freeze over first. The ball-winning bite, Ancelotti have both described a clash
awareness and
can happen and the club has certainly 66-year-old may be the oldest current technical poise. with Gasperini and his warrior brothers
had its setbacks this summer. Striker coach in Serie A, but he has shown no as being akin to a visit to the dentist.
YOUNGSTER
Gianluca Scamacca had to go under sign of losing his trademark competitive Never happier than when forcing the
Matteo Ruggeri
the knife after damaging knee ligaments spirit, the spiky ambition of the eternal Energetic left wing- opposition into one-on-one duels all
in a pre-season friendly, and Netherlands debutant. No chance of him not being back who scored over the pitch, the Gasperini credo is
midfielder Teun Koppmeiners thought motivated by the Champions League. a thumping finish take the other side out of their comfort
against Marseille
it a good idea to skip training in order He will be aiming to improve on the two in last season’s zone, prompting rethinks and eventually
to force through a transfer to Juventus. last-16 exits of 2019-20 and 2020-21. Europa League. panic – as Bayer Leverkusen discovered.

WORLD SOCCER 47
 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2024-25

The Outsiders
G I RO N A
After the exodus
What a shame that Girona’s stellar Southampton defensive midfielder
efforts of last season, qualifying for their Oriol Romeu, who is on secondment
first-ever Champions League expedition from Barcelona. All three have had
via a totally unexpected third-place in up-and-down careers, but the air at the
La Liga, promptly segued into a mass Montilivi does have restorative qualities.
exodus of influential players. Ukraine COACH
striker Artem Dovbyk, the top scorer in Michel How will coach Michel fill the gap
The Girona boss
La Liga last term with 24 goals, left for says his priority left by the Roma-bound Dovbyk?
Roma, much-underrated midfielder this season is La Abel Ruiz, a La Masia graduate who
Aleix Garcia signed for Leverkusen, Liga survival. Don’t made his name in Portugal with Braga,
believe a word of it.
Manchester City snapped up dribbling is in pole position to assume the Dovbyk
maestro Savinho, on-loan right-back KEY MAN mantle. Also in the frame are new boy
Yan Couto ended up at Dortmund, while New boy... Viktor Tsyhankov Miovski and the Uruguayan veteran
Bryan Gil Left-footed Ukraine
another loanee, centre-back Eric Garcia, winger, 26, who can Cristhian Stuani (ex-Middlesbrough).
returned to mother club Barcelona. work his magic on
The hope is that long-serving director midfielder Donny van de Beek, whose either flank. Made Does the massive turnover
his Champions
of sport Quique Carcel continues to sniff career nose-dived after leaving Ajax for League bow with
in personnel spell trouble?
out quality at bargain prices. His recruits Manchester United four years ago. Dynamo Kyiv at 18. Despite a nightmarish off-season of
for 2024-25 include former Spain U21 YOUNGSTER
endless comings and goings, coach
striker Abel Ruiz (ex-Braga), Colombian Will the “English Connection” work? Gabriel Misehouy
Michel is a brilliant team-builder and
winger Yaser Asprilla (Watford), Dutch Premier League experience apparently Skilful and confident could well reproduce the sort of highly
flyer Arnaut Danjuma (Villarreal), North was a key attribute as Girona went about 19-year-old wide or competitive blend that took them to
attacking midfielder,
Macedonia ace Bojan Miovski (Aberdeen), their summer rebuild, bringing in Van de snapped up this
such heights last term – a disciplined,
Czech centre-back Ladislav Krejci (Sparta Beek, winger Bryan Gil (on loan from summer on a free totally committed and homogenous bloc
Prague) and Netherlands box-to-box Tottenham) and former Chelsea and transfer from Ajax. which is very difficult to get the better of.

B O L OG N A
After the exodus part II
Like Girona, the Rossoblu also paid a of player at the point of the attack.
high price for last season’s extraordinary While Zirkzee was a very mobile type,
achievements, returning to Europe’s elite who liked to drop deep, combine with
competition for the first time in 60 years. team-mates and put in a lot of work
Thiago Motta, the mastermind of this off the ball, the two strikers expected
improbable success, was promptly head- COACH to take up the slack – Argentine
hunted by Juventus and was joined in Vincenzo Italiano Santiago Castro and new signing from
At Fiorentina, the
the departure lounge by two of the German-born boss
Toulouse Thijs Dallinga – are penalty-
team’s most influential performers: went 142 games box predators. Nicolo Cambiaghi, a
stylish defender Riccardo Calafiori without selecting the €10m signing from Atalanta, will
same starting XI in
(Arsenal) and fast-improving Dutch provide more frontline mobility.
consecutive fixtures.
striker Joshua Zirkzee (Manchester
United). That’s a lot of influence and KEY MAN Which principles are common to
excellence to lose at once, compounded Riccardo Orsolini Italiano and his predecessor Motta?
Talismanic winger Talismanic right-
by a knee injury to Lewis Ferguson that ...Riccardo Orsolini winger with craft and Both coaches are advocates of
will keep the outstanding Scotland goalscoring ability. playing out constructively from the
midfielder out for the foreseeable future. back Conference League showpieces in Describes himself back, deploying defenders who are
as a surfer who
New coach Vincenzo Italiano, who 2023 and 2024, and the 2023 Copa has found his best comfortable on the ball and who relish
spent the last three years at Fiorentina, Italia final). He will not want to be wave at Bologna. stepping out and using their initiative.
will likely be hard-pressed to maintain reminded that he lost all three. YOUNGSTER Their idea is that every player in the
Bologna’s romantic upward momentum. Dan Ndoye team has a part to play in an attacking
The 46-year-old, who was also linked How easy will it be for Bologna Clever and speedy sense. The evidence? In last season’s
with Napoli this summer, is very much a to fill the gap left by Zirkzee? forward, who was Serie A, Bologna had 16 different players
one of Switzerland’s
specialist in the knockout arena, steering First and foremost, Bologna’s creators standout players on the scoresheet, while Italiano’s
Fiorentina to three cup finals (back-to- will have to adjust to a different kind at Euro 2024. Fiorentina had 18 different goalscorers.

48 WORLD SOCCER
 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

C E LT I C
Frustration brewing
On the back of a second consecutive COACH
always stepping up in the vital moments
Vital
Scottish league and cup double, you forward Brendan Rodgers
and the biggest games. Despite his recent
would expect Celtic fans to be deliriously ...Kyogo Despite his many ankle injury, the £25m fee that Brighton
floating on air. Not a bit of it. After years Furuhashi domestic titles, paid for his services could prove a bargain.
Rodgers has just two
of coming up short in Europe – Celtic Champions League
last progressed beyond the Champions victories with Celtic. Did Celtic remove the Champions
League group stage in 2013 – supporter League monkey from their back
KEY MAN
anger has been brewing at the board’s Kyogo Furuhashi
with the 2-1 win over Feyenoord
apparent reluctance to spend extensively Celtic’s talisman, in last season’s group phase?
in the transfer market. whose goals and That victory certainly was overdue, their
energy so often
A large section of the Hoops fanbase first group-stage win at home in over a
prove vital.
continues to scream long and loud, and How badly will Celtic miss Denmark decade (dating back to a 2-1 win v Ajax
the toxicity is tangible. But if new signings international Matt O’Riley after his YOUNGSTER in October 2013) and only their second
Adam Idah (Norwich City), Arne Engels departure for Brighton? Matthew Anderson three-point haul in six years in the CL.
The 20-year-old
(Augsburg) and Auston Trusty (Sheffield In two-and-a-half seasons at Parkhead, left-back impressed For a club of Celtic’s prestige and history
United) quickly come up trumps, some O’Riley was often the difference-maker, on loan at Admira – European champions in 1966-67 –
disgruntled fans may be appeased. accumulating goals and assists and Wacker last term. that’s an unacceptable state of affairs.

CLUB BRUGGE
Rebuilt frontline
The sensational events of last season to be back on the up after finishing
in the Belgian top flight can easily be joint-top scorer in the 2.Bundesliga last
condensed into five words: never write season with 22 goals on loan at Fortuna
off Club Brugge. At the end of the COACH
Dusseldorf. He will link up with Swedish
regular season in Belgium, the Blauw- Nicky Hayen
striker Gustaf Nilsson, another new
Zwart trailed league pacesetters Union Former youth coach arrival, who plundered 17 goals for
Saint-Gilloise by a whopping 19 points. who replaced Ronny Union Saint-Gilloise last campaign.
Deila in March.
But while Union stumbled in the top-six
play-off round, Club found their groove, New striker...
KEY MAN In what department do Club
eventually landing their 19th title. Gustaf Nilsson Joel Ordonez sometimes let themselves down?
Ecuador centre-back
Sadly for the blue-and-blacks, with bucket loads
The Belgian champions can be an
they were unable to retain their most To whom will Club Brugge look of heart and grit. enigma, lacking consistency of purpose
dangerous attacking weapons, with the to fill Thiago and Nusa’s boots? and focus in the course of 90 minutes.
YOUNGSTER
free-scoring Brazilian striker Igor Thiago Christos Tzolis, who recently arrived from They can open the scoring, dominate
Kaye Furo
and outstanding winger Antonio Nusa Norwich City, is one. A Premier League Tall Belgium U17 and then inexplicably go into their shells.
leaving for Brentford and RB Leipzig move in 2021 didn’t work out for the striker signed from Coach Nicky Hayen admits that such
respectively. Greek winger, but still only 22 he looks Antwerp as a youth. fluctuating levels of intensity is a worry.

M O N AC O
Progressive principality
The Monte Carlo club is 100 years old injury lay-off. Monaco also will be
this year and their Austrian coach Adi banking on more end-product from
Hutter aims to celebrate the occasion USA striker Folarin Balogun, who
by setting the bar as high as possible COACH flattered to deceive somewhat last
for the 2024-25 campaign. Adi Hutter season, his first at the Stade Louis II.
As well as maintaining their lofty Ex-Bundesliga boss
with a reputation for
perch in Ligue 1 – they finished as Could Monaco receive a post-
expertly coaching the
runners-up last season – Hutter is art of gegenpressing. Olympic boost from a trio of
plotting a course to the Champions medallists at the Paris Games?
KEY MAN
League knockout stages. Why not?” he Livewire... A club with an excellent record in
Takumi Minamino
says. “I think we have the team to do it.” Takumi Minamino The effervescent youth development, Monaco had two
Champions League finalists in 2004, attacker is Monaco’s players in France’s Olympic football
beaten 3-0 by Jose Mourinho’s Porto, Prolific France striker Wissam Ben go-to man in the squad that won silver in Paris – centre-
final third.
the Monegasques last made a splash in Yedder was released this summer. back Soungoutou Magassa, 20, and
this competition seven years ago when Who will take up the slack? YOUNGSTER attacking midfielder Maghnes Akliouche,
a side featuring Kylian Mbappe and As he proved at Euro 2024, Switzerland Wilfried Singo 22, who has started the new season in
Ivory Coast’s
Bernardo Silva beat Manchester City front-man Breel Embolo is slowly but right-back in their fine fettle – while midfielder Eliesse Ben
and Dortmund en route to the semis. surely regaining his form after a long AFCON victory. Seghir captured bronze with Morocco.

WORLD SOCCER 49
 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2024-25

The Outsiders
F E Y E N OO R D
Under new management
Eredivisie runners-up last season, the High fives...
ways – tactically, technically and mentally.
Rotterdammers took many by surprise Feyenoord That has to be the modus operandi at a
in the Netherlands when opting this club of limited financial resources, where
summer to replace the hugely popular buying high-price talent is not an option.
Liverpool-bound coach Arne Slot with
the Dane Brian Priske, who signed a COACH How key is striker Santiago Gimenez?
three-year deal at De Kuip. Brian Priske While not quite the finished article, the
Crucially he speaks
This is the first time Feyenoord have fluent Dutch, having Mexican has piled up 49 goals in two
employed a foreign coach in 33 years, played in Belgium seasons and no one at the club comes
since the Swede Gunder Bengtsson with Genk and Club close to his poaching prowess in the box,
Brugge and coached
was in charge between 1989 and 1991. Antwerp. his flair for being in the right place at
Priske certainly will want to avoid the the right time and his killer instinct.
KEY MAN
meagre returns of the Bengtsson era,
Calvin Stengs
a period of mid-table anonymity and a Fortunately for How has this summer’s transfer
decidedly toxic atmosphere at the club. Feyenoord, this window affected the squad?
Fresh from two highly successful of course, the sporting achievements: attacking midfielder Southampton’s collapsed move for first-
of pace and guile had
seasons at Sparta Prague, where he the Eredivisie title in 2022-23, last second thoughts
choice keeper Justin Bijlow gave the club
masterminded the Czech league title season’s Dutch Cup and a silver medal over a summer a boost, but the loss of stalwarts Lutsharel
in 2022-23 and a league-cup double in the 2021-22 Conference League. move to MLS. Geertruida (RB Leipzig) and Mats Wieffer
last campaign, Priske is only too aware YOUNGSTER (Brighton), along with the expiration of
that he must not overly tamper with Why did Feyenoord turn to Priske? Gjivai Zechiel explosive winger Yankuba Minteh’s loan,
Slot’s template: the faith in academy Like Slot, the Dane has a well-founded Only 20, the busy, has hit them hard. Hwang In-beom (Red
tactically-aware
graduates, the front-foot attacking reputation for analysing the strengths midfielder looked the
Star Belgrade), Jordan Lotomba (Nice)
football, the confidence and unity he and weaknesses of players, for working part against PSV in and Ibrahim Osman (Brighton) have
brought to the entire organisation and, stintlessly to improve individuals in all the Dutch Super Cup. some pretty heavy lifting to do.

S T U T TG A R T
A club on the up
First, the bad news: three of the key fielders in their element winning the ball.
contributors to their stunning Bundesliga In attack, the immensely mobile Deniz
runners-up spot have headed for the exit, Undav is particularly hard to pick up.
with 28-goal striker Serhou Guirassy and
stopper Waldemar Anton both moving to Is their squad stronger or weaker?
Dortmund and versatile defender Hiroki COACH Never mind the big-name departures.
Ito lured away by Bayern Munich. Sebastian Hoeness The Swabians have bought wisely and
A former youth
Now for the good tidings: the smart coach at RB Leipzig
in quantity this summer and appear
recruitment of a gaggle of ultra-exciting and Bayern, he cut to have greater strength in depth, with
newcomers, including Bosnian front-man his senior teeth good competition for starting roles all
at Hoffenheim.
Ermedin Demirovic (Augsburg) – who has over the field. Sighs of relief could be
the quality to be a Europe-wide sensation KEY MAN heard all over Stuttgart when Bayern
Big potential
– centre-back Jeff Chabot (Cologne), ...Ermedin Chris Fuhrich Munich did not follow through on their
midfielder Yannick Keitel (Freiburg) and Demirovic Elusive left-winger interest in star winger Chris Fuhrich.
now fulfilling his
Swiss schemer Fabian Rieder (Rennes). potential after failing
Exciting times for the Swabian club’s Hoeness, remains in charge and ready to make the grade What is Stuttgart’s masterplan?
faithful, deprived of Champions League to take on the next big challenge. at Dortmund. They are doing a fine job of identifying
football for 14 years and quick to snap up YOUNGSTER youngsters with high ceilings that can be
all of the 36,000 available season tickets. How will Hoeness’ Stuttgart set up? Enzo Millot sold on for a big profit. Among the most
Despite rumours linking him to Bayern Within the framework of his preferred The 22-year-old promising of this year’s newcomers are
Frenchman is
Munich, Chelsea and Manchester United, 4-2-3-1 and 4-4-2 systems, Hoeness Stuttgart’s Swiss striker Nick Woltemade (Werder Bremen)
highly impressive young coach Sebastian puts a premium on solid possession to Army knife, bringing and winger Justin Diehl (Cologne). Another
Hoeness, the nephew of Bayern icon Uli establish control and a brave and direct technique, speed big success story is defensive midfielder
and creativity to
Hoeness and son of former German attacking style. His Stuttgart is especially any number of Angelo Stiller, the former Bayern trainee
national team centre-forward Dieter adept at pressing, with four narrow mid- attacking positions. who arrived from Hoffenheim last year.

50 WORLD SOCCER
 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

BREST
Unlikely underdogs
After the ignominy of going bankrupt in COACH
second from bottom of Ligue 1 when
Unlikely
1991 and spending many years in the underdogs Eric Roy
he arrived in January 2023 and – with
French amateur ranks (1991 to 2004), ...Brest Coaches as he played, more or less the same group of players
the unfashionable Breton outfit suddenly emphasising self- – turning them into a winning machine,
sacrifice and
have a place in the sun to enjoy, about simplicity.
never admitting defeat and superb at
to embark on their first-ever Champions retrieving second balls.
League adventure. KEY MAN
Pierre Lees-Melou
Still a second-tier side five years ago Shifted from
Where will Brest host their
and European competition debutants, advanced midfielder European fixtures this season?
Brest’s rags-to-riches story has brought to ball-winner with Sadly, their rather rustic 15,000 Stade
excellent results.
out the worst of some Gallic pundits, Francis-Le Ble, which only has around
who claim that they are not worthy of Did Eric Roy deserve his 2023-24 YOUNGSTER 5,000 seats, does not conform to
representing France on the big stage. French Coach of the Year award? Abdallah Sima UEFA requirements. Thus, the Pirates
Coach Eric Roy, who masterminded Absolutely. What the former Marseille, On loan from will be forced to emigrate to the Stade
Brighton, the tricky
last season’s improbable third-place Lyon, Nice and Sunderland midfielder forward shone for Roudourou in Guingamp, a good 100km
finish in Ligue 1, responded by saying achieved last term was nothing short Rangers in last term’s to the east in Brittany, for their first-ever
that that’s not his problem. of a miracle, taking a team that was Europa League. Champions League home games.

STURM GRAZ
Red Bulls’ vanquishers
No wonder the decibels were turned with the mammoth task of finding the
Rubbing
up to the maximum at Sturm’s Merkur shoulders... right blend. Sturm will especially miss
Arena on the final whistle of a 2-0 Sturm faced talented young Austria midfielder
victory over Klagenfurt on the final PSG in pre- Alexander Prass, who was snapped
season COACH
weekend of last season. For only the Christian Ilzer
up by German club Hoffenheim.
fourth time in their history, the team Has built a team in
known as the “Blackies” scooped the his own image: feisty Which of the newcomers could
and uncompromising.
national championship, their first make the biggest impact?
domestic crown in 13 years. KEY MAN Arjan Malic, a 19-year-old Slovenian
It was a long time coming for Sturm Otar Kiteishvili centre-back who joined from Austrian
The playmaker helped
– who made it a double by adding the Georgia reach the
second division side Ried, looked very
Austrian Cup as well – after ten long years What are the chances of a repeat last 16 of Euro 2024. promising in pre-season, as did Lovro
of watching Red Bull Salzburg win title of the 2000-01 Champions League Zvonarek, a classy Croatian midfielder
YOUNGSTER
after title. With an average age of just when Sturm reached the last 16? on loan from Bayern Munich. Striker
Amady Camara
23, the Styrians have plenty of scope to Highly unlikely. They have endured a The 19-year-old Mali Mika Biereth impressed on loan from
grow and develop, but the step up to the whirlpool of signings and departures this striker scored their Arsenal last season and has looked
Champions League will be a big one. summer, presenting coach Christian Ilzer title-winning goal. even better since joining permanently.

S H A K H TA R D O N E T S K
Still fighting on
No need to tell the reigning Ukrainian another German stadium, Schalke’s
champions how dangerous life in their Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen. The
homeland is at this time of conflict with Miners are sure to be well-supported in
Russia. In August, all connected with COACH their continental endeavours with both
the Miners were shaken to hear that the Marino Pusic Ukrainian refugees and local fans from
hotel they were due to stay at, prior to a Former assistant the Ruhr backing the temporary tenants.
to new Liverpool
league game against Kryvbas, had been
boss Arne Slot.
the target of a Russian rocket attack, In what sort of form are the
killing two people and injuring five. KEY MAN 15-time Ukrainian champions?
It’s against this bloody backdrop that Fighting on....Shahktar in Mykola Matviyenko It’s been an erratic start to the new
last season’s group stage Vice-captain and
Shakhtar begin their 19th campaign in solid centre-back campaign to say the least, with two
the Champions League, a competition in with a rocket shot. defeats in their first four fixtures: a
which they have enjoyed much success, Volkparkstadion, to reach the knockout YOUNGSTER 1-0 home loss to Polissya and a 4-3
notably a quarter-final in 2010-11. rounds of the Europa League. Heorhiy Sudakov reverse at Oleksandriya. In the latter,
Last season they defied the odds by Silky smooth Shakhtar were in total control – 2-0 up
finishing third in their group, notably Where will Shakhtar play their “home” midfielder, 22, who is and cruising after 25 minutes – only to
one of the brightest
claiming the scalp of Barcelona in Champions League ties this season? stars of Ukraine’s alarmingly collapse. “We lack stability,”
their makeshift home of Hamburg’s This time around they will play at national team. bemoaned their coach Marino Pusic.

WORLD SOCCER 51
 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2024-25

Play-Off Qualifiers
LILLE
Never say die
Les Dogues are a hard team to kill off. In Where can Lille improve?
both qualifying ties, against Fenerbahce In terms of final balls and finishing, the
and Slavia Prague, there were moments Lillois must be a little more precise. They
when they were hanging on for dear life, have been defensively shaky this term,
only to rally and eventually prevail. This with the recent sale of outstanding young
ability to suffer and still come out on COACH centre-back Leny Yoro to Manchester
top is an admirable quality and it’s no Bruno Genesio United a massive contributing factor.
Famously led Lyon
coincidence that just one other French to a 2-1 victory at Algerian Aissa Mandi was signed from
club (Monaco back in 2016-17) has Manchester City in Villarreal on a free, but Genesio has also
managed to clear the dual hurdles the group stage of been experimenting with newly-signed
the Champions
of the Champions League third League in 2018. Belgian international Thomas Meunier in
qualifying round and play-offs. Dramatic...Jonathan central defence rather than in his usual
KEY MAN
In the early stages of the season, few David celebrates scoring position of right-back or wing-back.
against Fenerbahce Angel Gomes
French sides have played as well as Lille. Midfielder blessed
Strong in ball retention, effective in their with tremendous Are influential midfielders Angel
pressing and able to carve out openings How has Lille’s approach changed versatility and a Gomes and Nabil Bentaleb over
sublime skill-set.
at will, they have a lot going for them. under new coach Bruno Genesio? Recently called
their recent medical scares?
But they also have their faults. In Since replacing Paulo Fonseca, the up by England (see Bentaleb, who reportedly suffered a
the return fixture versus Slavia, they ex-Lyon and Rennes boss has wisely page 60 for more). cardiac arrest during a five-a-side game
appeared paralysed for much of the stuck to his predecessor’s spadework YOUNGSTER in June and had to undergo emergency
game by the high stakes on the table. – playing out from the back, dominating Lucas Chevalier surgery, is now out of danger but unlikely
“It wasn’t fantastic,” said their Belgian possession and offensive risk-taking – Brilliant homegrown to resume his career. Stretchered off
goalkeeper destined
defender Thomas Meunier. “In the first but putting his own stamp on the side by to play for France very
unconscious after a horrendous clash
half we were apprehensive and stressful. switching to a back three and peppering soon. A penalty- of heads with a Reims defender, Gomes
We refused to play.” the playing style with greater directness. saving specialist. has also, thankfully, now recovered.

R E D B U L L S A L Z B U RG
Bouncing back
“Only” second in last season’s Austrian giving the ball away cheaply in his own
New man in
Bundesliga – thus bringing an end to charge...Pep half. But the good far outweighs the
a ten-year streak of dominance – the Lijnders bad; with his educated left foot, eye for
Salzburg suits did not waste any time a killer pass and impressive shooting
shifting into reset mode, with chief accuracy, the Croatian will be missed.
executive Stephan Reiter making it COACH
plain that their first campaign without Pep Lijnders Who will be Lijnders’ skipper?
In his only other spell
a trophy since 2012-13 was “a signal as a pro head coach,
The armband is now the property of
that we really must react to.” he took charge of goalkeeper Janis Blaswich who is on
After getting through two head Dutch side NEC a single-season loan from RB Leipzig.
Nijmegen for a few
coaches (Gerhard Struber and Onur “From his first moment here, he gave
months in 2018.
Cinel) in 2023-24 following Matthias the impression of relishing the
Jaissle’s exit for Saudi Arabia, the KEY MAN responsibility,” said Lijnders.
Salzburger urgently needed to relight Kamil Piatkowski
Rugged Poland
the fire at the Red Bull Arena and centre-back for Will Lijnders try to try to replicate
believe they have done so with the lucky in the case of newly-acquired whom no cause is “Klopp Ball” with Salzburg?
arrival in the technical area of Pep Japanese defensive midfielder Takumu ever lost. Superb in It’s what he was brought in for: a high,
recent Champions
Lijnders, previously the long-serving Kawamura, who damaged his ACL League qualifiers. concentrated press, power football in a
right-hand man of Jurgen Klopp at during a pre-season training camp. 4-3-3 and the relentless quest to put the
YOUNGSTER
Liverpool. The 41-year-old Dutchman opposition under pressure. The 4-3-1-2
Adam Daghim
knows all about the mechanics of How much of a loss is Real Sociedad- Quick and direct, of the last couple of seasons is a thing of
winning at the top level and quickly bound midfielder Luka Sucic? the teenage Dane the past. Dynamism and intensity will be
steered his new side past Twente Sucic, still only 22, on occasion flattered is shaping up very Salzburg’s watchwords, though at certain
nicely indeed on
and Dynamo Kyiv in qualifying. to deceive while on Salzburg’s books, the right side of times out of possession, they do fall
Salzburg, though, were a lot less guilty of nonchalance and prone to Salzburg’s attack. back to form a narrow, compact block.

52 WORLD SOCCER
 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

S L OVA N B R AT I S L AVA
Champions League debutants
Taking part in their first-ever Champions COACH
head. It is a harsh assessment of a boss
Destiny...Slovan players
League campaign, Slovan will be hoping celebrate v Midtjylland Vladimir Weiss Sr
who has now guided two Slovak clubs to
to draw some inspiration from the club’s Coached Slovakia at the Champions League. His last tilt was
greatest achievements in continental the 2010 World Cup, with Artmedia Petrzalka in 2005-06,
leading the under-
football: their shock 3-2 victory over dogs to the last 16.
when his side claimed a stunning 3-2
Barcelona in the final of the 1968-69 victory away to Porto – after trailing 2-0
European Cup Winners’ Cup and their KEY MAN – en route to a third-place group finish.
Vladimir Weiss Jr
major contribution to Czechoslovakia’s Attacking midfielder,
sensational European Championship 34, who first played What can we expect from
win in 1976, the six Slovan players in the Champions Slovan as an attacking force?
League 14 years ago.
who started the penalty-shootout A key part of Slovan’s offensive threat
The coach’s son.
victory over West Germany in the final. Has Slovan coach Vladimir Weiss comes from overloads on the right side,
The Sky Blues feel they are a team definitively silenced his critics with YOUNGSTER triggered by adventurous Panamanian
of destiny after the play-offs. Trailing his side’s Champions League ticket? Nino Marcelli full-back Cesar Blackman, Armenian
Extremely promising
Danish outfit Midtjylland with just eight Probably not, though he is bound to feel 19-year-old winger winger Tigran Barseghyan and Croat
minutes left on the clock, they conjured a real sense of vindication. Only last year, named Slovakia’s number ten Marko Tolic, who often
up two last-gasp goals to progress. many in Slovakia were calling for his Young Player of the swaps positions with Barseghyan.
Season for 2023-24.

S PA R TA PR AG U E
New coach, same approach
Sparta, Czech league winners in each bustling presence and decent finishing
of the past two seasons, are up and ability, Rrahmani is a better all-round
running at full tilt again, restored to frontrunner, superior in link-up play,
their domestic perch after nine years COACH
more skilful, and a natural predator in
of lost momentum and now back in Lars Friis
the penalty box – as he demonstrated
the Champions League for the first Danish coach once of with a poacher’s close-range finish
time since 2005-06. Viborg, AaB Aalborg against Malmo in the play-offs.
and Brentford’s
Following the summer departure youth team.
to Feyenoord of highly successful Key man... What are Sparta’s strengths?
head coach Brian Priske, mastermind Lukas Haraslin KEY MAN A good high-pressing game, speed
Lukas Haraslin
of both those league titles, his former A winger of vitality,
on the counter-attack and incisiveness
assistant Lars Friis has taken charge. Is new Kosovan striker Albion quick feet and when attacking in wide positions, where
So far, the 48-year-old Dane has Rrahmani an upgrade on Czech scoring ability. Slovakia winger Lukas Haraslin and
shrewdly stuck to the “if it ain’t broke, forward Jan Kuchta, who recently YOUNGSTER Serbia wideman Veljko Birmancevic
don’t fix it” mantra with positive results, left the club for Midtjylland? Martin Vitik invariably shine. They are also very
cruising through qualifying ties against Most definitely. While Kuchta had many Centre-back tasked effective at offensive set-pieces, with
Shamrock Rovers, FCSB and Malmo. assets, not least his incisive movement, with replacing Girona- an array of well-rehearsed routines.
bound Ladislav Krejci.

R E D S TA R B E L G R A D E
Welcome to hell
Older supporters of the Belgrade giants the club have no one of his industry,
still look back longingly to the team’s drive and technical skills in the middle
one and only triumph in the European of the park. When it came to breaking
Cup in 1990-91, and that historic night COACH the lines, the indefatigable box-to-box
where a legendary side featuring the Vladan Milojevic midfielder was their number one asset.
likes of Darko Pancev, Dejan Savicevic, His third attempt at
the CL in his second
Robert Prosinecki and Sinisa Mihajlovic Who can replace long-serving
Welcome spell at Red Star.
defeated Marseille on penalties in the centre-back Aleksandar Dragovic?
to hell... KEY MAN
final in Bari. Red Star’s After Dragovic joined Austria Vienna, the
Serbian SuperLiga champions for the infamous Uros Spajic baton of skipper and backline leader has
tunnel Centre-back who
last seven years, Red Star have competed made Serbia’s Euro passed to Uros Spajic, a hugely popular
three times in the Champions League in 2024 squad but player at the Marakana thanks to his
the last six seasons but without covering How much will Red Star miss South failed to play a game. commitment and his knack for scoring
themselves in glory, finishing bottom of Korea midfielder Hwang In-beom, YOUNGSTER important headed goals – one in last
their first phase group on each occasion. who recently left for Feyenoord? Felicio Milson season’s cup final and another in the
Prepare for a white-hot atmosphere at It’s a blow they may not recover from. In Angola winger who play-off victory over Bodo/Glimt. He
can cause damage to
their iconic Rajko Mitic Stadium (aka last season’s Champions League, Hwang any defence with his will be partnered by promising young
Marakana) as they look to remedy that. was Red Star’s standout performer and speed and trickery. Burkina Faso stopper Nasser Djiga.

WORLD SOCCER 53
 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2024-25

Play-Off Qualifiers
D I N A M O Z AG R E B
A year to remember
This year has been one to remember for Impressive...
competition from understudy Sandro
the Blues, claiming their 25th Croatian Marko Pjaca Kulenovic, 24, who has started the
league title since national independence scores against new campaign on fire.
Qarabag
and adding the domestic cup for good
measure to complete the 13th domestic In which position is the influential
double in their history. COACH Marko Pjaca best employed?
Just as significantly, they finally received Sergej Jakirovic The former Juventus, Fiorentina and
Controversially quit
the green light to build a new stadium on the ever-improving
Schalke forward has the smarts and the
the site of their current Maksimir home. Rijeka early last technical class to operate on either wing,
For the best part of three decades, a season to replace as a central playmaker or as a second
Igor Biscan at
property dispute over the ownership of Dinamo.
striker, but coach Sergej Jakirovic sees
the land kept the project on hold – until him at his most effective cutting in from
now. Red-hot on European nights, the KEY MAN the right flank. See his blistering left-
Martin Baturina
Maksimir has been the stage for their 21-year-old creative
footed strike in the Champions League
last eight Champions League campaigns. heartbeat of the play-off second leg against Qarabag.
Dinamo have never qualified for the 2024 squad this summer: striker Bruno team, blessed with
natural playmaking
last 16, but have claimed some major Petkovic and midfielder Martin Baturina. Who is the squad’s most
ability and comfort on
scalps in their backyard, pulling off shock the ball in tight spots. undervalued player?
victories over Arsenal (2-1 in 2015-16), Is striker Bruno Petkovic still assured Probably Petar Sucic, a highly versatile
YOUNGSTER
Atalanta (4-0 in 2019-20) and Chelsea of his place in the starting line-up? performer in the middle of the park,
Lukas Kacavenda
(1-0 in 2022-23). Petkovic is Dinamo’s highest-profile Arguably the next equally proficient in a holding role as
It says much about Croat football as player and, after piling up the goals for big thing at Dinamo, delivering the creative goods. Although
an export business that the domestically the club over the past five years, has an a supremely talented born and raised in Bosnia, his family is
winger or number ten.
all-powerful Dinamo only had two undroppable status. But he has not been Croatia Under-21 Croatian and earlier this year, he switched
representatives in the country’s Euro at his sharpest of late and faces stiff international. his international eligibility to Croatia.

YO U N G B OYS
Strong and stable
The Swiss champions, title winners in six especially in YB’s 1-0 win in Istanbul in
Into the group stage...
of the last seven years, opted for squad Young Boys celebrate the second leg of the play-offs. They
continuity this summer, with the only beating Galatasaray have an outstanding back-up too in
notable departures being young centre- youngster Sadin Crnovrsanin.
back Aurele Amenda (returning to parent
club Eintracht Frankfurt) and his centre- COACH Of all the players to have returned
back partner Fabian Lustenberger who Patrick Rahmen to Young Boys after loan stints,
Prior to this season,
hung up his boots. the 55-year-old
who could make the most impact?
Meanwhile, new signings were thin on coach was unbeaten Enterprising full-back Zachary Athekame,
the ground too. French-Ivorian stopper in 12 European who YB signed from Neuchatel Xamax
competition matches
Tanguy Zoukrou, previously with French in January and then loaned backed for
at the helm of Basel.
second-tier side Troyes, was joined by six months, looks quite a prospect. The
pacy striker Facinet Conte (ex-Bastia) KEY MAN Swiss U21 international has bounced
who was promptly ruled out for at least Filip Ugrinic back well after being rejected as a
Swiss midfielder of
six months after tearing cruciate knee Serb heritage, who youth by hometown club Servette.
ligaments in pre-season training. their opening six Swiss Super League scored last season
In contrast to their playing personnel games. Now looks much more secure against Red Star Where are YB the most dangerous?
Belgrade, the club
stability, the YB decision-makers opted after qualifying YB for the Champions he once supported. They pose a real threat on the right side,
this summer to bring in the ex-Basel and League at the expense of Galatasaray. with the tandem of attacking right-back
YOUNGSTER
Winterthur boss Patrick Rahmen, chosen Lewin Blum and wide midfielder Joel
Ebrima Colley
to replace caretaker coach Joel Magnin. Who will feature in their The speedy Gambia Monteiro complementing each other
Rahmen had a torrid time in the first new-look defensive pairing? winger recently very well. Monteiro scored twice in the
few weeks of the new campaign, his new The duo formed by Guinea’s Mohamed joined Young Boys 3-2 first-leg win over Galatasaray, while
permanently after
team sitting rock bottom ahead of the Camara and Zoukrou stood up well to a successful loan Blum is on the road to fulfilling his dream
international break, with no wins from the assaults of the Galatasaray forwards, stint from Atalanta. of playing in the German top flight.

All teams compiled by Nick Bidwell

54 WORLD SOCCER
 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

C H A M PI O N S L E AG U E : 2 024 -25 F I X T U R E S
Tuesday, September 17 Brest v Bayer Leverkusen (5.45pm) Club Brugge v Sporting (8pm)
Juventus v PSV (5.45pm) Atletico Madrid v Lille (8pm) RB Leipzig v Aston Villa (8pm)
Young Boys v Aston Villa (5.45pm) Barcelona v Bayern Munich (8pm) Red Bull Salzburg v Paris Saint-Germain (8pm)
Bayern Munich v Dinamo Zagreb (8pm) Benfica v Feyenoord (8pm) Shakhtar Donetsk v Bayern Munich (8pm)
Milan v Liverpool (8pm) Manchester City v Sparta Prague (8pm)
Real Madrid v Stuttgart (8pm) RB Leipzig v Liverpool (8pm) Wednesday, December 11
Sporting v Lille (8pm) Red Bull Salzburg v Dinamo Zagreb (8pm) Atletico Madrid v Slovan Bratislava (5.45pm)
Young Boys v Internazionale (8pm) Lille v Sturm Graz (5.45pm)
Wednesday, September 18 Arsenal v Monaco (8pm)
Bologna v Shakhtar Donetsk (5.45pm) Tuesday, November 5 Benfica v Bologna (8pm)
Sparta Prague v Red Bull Salzburg (5.45pm) PSV v Girona (5.45pm) Borussia Dortmund v Barcelona (8pm)
Celtic v Slovan Bratislava (8pm) Slovan Bratislava v Dinamo Zagreb (5.45pm) Feyenoord v Sparta Prague (8pm)
Club Brugge v Borussia Dortmund (8pm) Bologna v Monaco (8pm) Juventus v Manchester City (8pm)
Manchester City v Internazionale (8pm) Borussia Dortmund v Sturm Graz (8pm) Milan v Red Star Belgrade (8pm)
Paris Saint-Germain v Girona (8pm) Celtic v RB Leipzig (8pm)
Lille v Juventus (8pm) Stuttgart v Young Boys (8pm)
Thursday, September 19 Liverpool v Bayer Leverkusen (8pm)
Feyenoord v Bayer Leverkusen (5.45pm) Real Madrid v Milan (8pm) Tuesday, January 21
Red Star Belgrade v Benfica (5.45pm) Sporting v Manchester City (8pm) Atalanta v Sturm Graz (5.45pm)
Atalanta v Arsenal (8pm) Monaco v Aston Villa (5.45pm)
Atletico Madrid v RB Leipzig (8pm) Wednesday, November 6 Atletico Madrid v Bayer Leverkusen (8pm)
Brest v Sturm Graz (8pm) Club Brugge v Aston Villa (5.45pm) Benfica v Barcelona (8pm)
Monaco v Barcelona (8pm) Shakhtar Donetsk v Young Boys (5.45pm) Bologna v Borussia Dortmund (8pm)
Bayern Munich v Benfica (8pm) Club Brugge v Juventus (8pm)
Tuesday, October 1 Feyenoord v Red Bull Salzburg (8pm) Liverpool v Lille (8pm)
Red Bull Salzburg v Brest (5.45pm) Internazionale v Arsenal (8pm) Red Star Belgrade v PSV (8pm)
Stuttgart v Sparta Prague (5.45pm) Paris Saint-Germain v Atletico Madrid (8pm) Slovan Bratislava v Stuttgart (8pm)
Arsenal v Paris Saint-Germain (8pm) Red Star Belgrade v Barcelona (8pm)
Barcelona v Young Boys (8pm) Sparta Prague v Brest (8pm) Wednesday, January 22
Bayer Leverkusen v Milan (8pm) Stuttgart v Atalanta (8pm) RB Leipzig v Sporting (5.45pm)
Borussia Dortmund v Celtic (8pm) Shakhtar Donetsk v Brest (5.45pm)
Internazionale v Red Star Belgrade (8pm) Tuesday, November 26 Arsenal v Dinamo Zagreb (8pm)
PSV v Sporting (8pm) Slovan Bratislava v Milan (5.45pm) Celtic v Young Boys (8pm)
Slovan Bratislava v Manchester City (8pm) Sparta Prague v Atletico Madrid (5.45pm) Feyenoord v Bayern Munich (8pm)
Barcelona v Brest (8pm) Milan v Girona (8pm)
Wednesday, October 2 Bayer Leverkusen v Red Bull Salzburg (8pm) Paris Saint-Germain v Manchester City (8pm)
Girona v Feyenoord (5.45pm) Bayern Munich v Paris Saint-Germain (8pm) Real Madrid v Red Bull Salzburg (8pm)
Shakhtar Donetsk v Atalanta (5.45pm) Internazionale v RB Leipzig (8pm) Sparta Prague v Internazionale (8pm)
Aston Villa v Bayern Munich (8pm) Manchester City v Feyenoord (8pm)
Benfica v Atletico Madrid (8pm) Sporting v Arsenal (8pm) Wed dnesdday, Januarry 29
Dinamo Zagreb v Monaco (8pm) Young Boys v Atalanta (8pm) Aston Villa v Celtic (8
8pm)
Lille v Real Madrid (8pm) Barcelona v Atalanta (8pm)
Liverpool v Bologna (8pm) Wednessday, November 27 Bayer Leverkusen v Sparta Prague (8pm)
RB Leipzig v Juventus (8pmm) Red Star Belgrade v Stuttgart (5.45pm)
Sturm Graz v Club Brugge (8pm) Bayern Munich v Slovvan Bratislava (8pm)
Sturm Graz v Girona (5.45pm)
Borussia Dortmund v Shakhtar Donetsk (8pm)

U . Fixx tures are subject to change

Aston Villa v Juventus (8pm)
Tuesday, October 22 Bolognaa v Lille (8pm) Brest v Real Madrid (8pm)
Milan v Club Brugge (5.45ppm) Celtic v Club Brugge (8pm) Dinamo Zagreb v Milaan (8pm)
Monaco v Red Star Belgrad de (5.45pm) Dinamo Zagreb v Borussia Dortmund (8ppm) Girona v Arsenal (8pm m)
Arsenal v Shakhtar Donetskk (8pm) Liverpoool v Real Madrid (8pm) Internazionale v Monnaco (8pm)
Aston Villa v Bologna (8pm m) Monaco o v Benfica (8pm) Juventus v Benfica (8 8pm)
Girona v Slovan Bratislava (8 8pm) PSV v Shakhtar Donetsk (8pm) Lille v Feyenoord (8ppm)
Juventtus v Stutttgartt (8pm)) Manchester City v Club Brugge (8pm)
- ,
r s
EUROPA LEAGUE 2024-25

Destination Bilbao
Nick Bidwell casts his eye over the leading candidates in the 2024-25 Europa League

From Norway’s Bodo/Glimt in the lands the same formula as the new UEFA Basque rivals…Real presence in this season’s field of 13
of northern exposure to Maccabi Tel Aviv Champions League, the old group Sociedad and Athletic clubs who have previously triumphed
Club will be among
in the south, from Porto on the western phase has been replaced by a the contenders for in Europe says otherwise.
flank to the eastern frontiers of Qarabag single 36-team league. this season’s trophy Even when less competitive, the likes
in Azerbaijan, all points of the continental With non-domestic league of Manchester United, Roma, Lyon and
compass will be featured as the curtain winners flooding into the Champions Ajax undoubtedly add a certain spice
goes up on this term’s Europa League. League, it has become commonplace to proceedings. As does the prize of
In the first edition of a reformatted to disparage the Europa League, Champions League access to the
competition, which henceforth will use to view it as an irrelevance. The Europa League victors.

FAVOURITES
Given Spain’s status as the most 2011-12 Europa League showpiece. them (opting for Roma instead). The
dominant nation in the history of the Meanwhile, Despite the departure of homegrown youngster Jon Pacheco
UEFA Cup/Europa League, and the fact a couple of key players this summer offers more.
that Bilbao’s magnificent San Mames (Robin Le Normand to Atletico and If Manchester United’s top
stadium will host this season’s final, it midfielder Mikel Merino to Arsenal), priority this season is to re-establish
makes eminent sense to look to the Real Sociedad still boast a core of themselves in the Premier League top
Basque country for the prospective excellence in the shape of engine- four, the Europa League represents an
winners. Athletic Club, overjoyed to room anchorman Martin Zubimendi enticing alternative route back to the
have resisted the many suitors of starlet (who recently turned down Liverpool) continental top table. United won this
wide-man Nico Williams, have yet to and frontline stars Mikel Oyarzabal competition as recently as 2016-17
win a European trophy but have come and Takefusa Kubo. Never mind the and in these difficult times for both
close, losing to Juventus in the 1975-76 Route to the top…the decision of veteran German centre- the club and manager Erik ten Hag,
Europa League could
final of the UEFA Cup on away goals prove valuable for back Mats Hummels to reportedly any tangible success would be most
and beaten by Atletico Madrid in the Manchester United U-turn on an agreement to join welcome.

56 WORLD SOCCER
 EUROPA LEAGUE

IN CONTENTION
Contenders
…Porto

Without silverware since early 2008 New striker…

– when they lifted the English League Tottenham’s
Dominic Solanke
Cup – Tottenham dearly would love to
go all the way in Europe, emulating their
glory days of the 1983-84 UEFA Cup. pair of Spanish young guns, attacking Germany’s Eintracht Frankfurt
They never are short of boldness under midfielder Ivan Jaime and recently- boast an impressive UEFA Cup/Europa
manager Ange Postecoglou and have signed ex-Atletico Madrid frontrunner League pedigree, winners in 1979-80
an excellent new striker in the former Samu Omorodion, make for a dream and 2021-22 and semi-finalists in
Bournemouth finisher Dominic Solanke, partnership in the attacking third. 2018-19. Mysteriously, the Waldstadion
though they must tighten up their For all their chronic inconsistency, outfit usually seem to prefer shorter-
defending from set-pieces. Roma are the sort of mercurial side that haul competitions and the frontline of
Porto, twice winners of the UEFA could raise their game in Europe. The Omar Marmoush, Hugo Ekitike and Igor
Cup/Europa League (in 2002-03 and Giallorossi added a great deal of quality Matanovic is potentially explosive.
2010-11), have a definite affinity with this in the summer, bringing in midfielders
trophy and appear to be re-energised by Alexis Saelemaekers (Milan), Enzo Le
the new-era power structure of chairman
Andre Villas-Boas – the architect of the
Fee (Rennes) and Manu Kone (Gladbach),
exciting former Juventus winger Matias
WHO’S WHO?
Dragons’ Europa League title in 2011 – Soule, prolific Ukrainian striker Artem Ajax (Netherlands)
and coach Vitor Bruno, who took over Dovbyk (Girona), and the experienced Anderlecht (Belgium)
in the off-season from long-serving centre-back pair Hummels (Dortmund) Athletic Club (Spain)
talisman Sergio Conceicao. Their and Mario Hermoso (Atletico Madrid). AZ (Netherlands)
Besiktas (Turkey)
Bodo/Glimt (Norway)
DARK HORSES Braga (Portugal)
After suffering one of the most serial European winner that is Jose Dynamo Kyiv (Ukraine)
disastrous seasons in the club’s history, Mourinho? In a stellar coaching career, Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany)
finishing well off the pace in fifth in the he has masterminded the conquest of Elfsborg (Sweden)
Eredivisie, Ajax desperately needed no fewer than five continental trophies FCSB (Romania)
someone to fix their glaring defensive and could have a few tricks up his Fenerbahce (Turkey)
inadequacies and the early signs are sleeve this time around. Somewhat Ferencvaros (Hungary)
that new coach Francesco Farioli is unfortunate to be knocked out by Lille Galatasaray (Turkey)
plugging the gaps. Three clean sheets in the Champions League qualifying Hoffenheim (Germany)
in six Europa League qualifiers was play-offs, Fenerbahce will be looking Lazio (Italy)
an encouraging sign and if strikers to experienced campaigners in the Ludogorets (Bulgaria)
Brian Brobbey and new recruit Wout form of Brazilian midfielder Fred and Lyon (France)
Weghorst keep the goals flowing, the the frontline trio of Allan Saint-Maximin, The Special One… Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel)
Jose Mourinho
Amsterdammers may be in business. Edin Dzeko and Youssef En-Nesyri. The at Fenerbahce
Malmo (Sweden)
It’s hard to work out what to expect latter was twice a Europa League winner Manchester United (England)
from Lazio in Europe this term. While with Sevilla in 2019-20 and 2022-23. Midtjylland (Denmark)
the attacking pairing of Argentine Nice (France)
centre-forward Taty Castellanos and Back on track…Ajax Olympiacos (Greece)
winger and skipper Mattia Zaccagni beat Panathinaikos PAOK (Greece)
make for a great match-winning double on penalties in Porto (Portugal)
qualifying
act, in other sectors the Biancocelesti Qarabag (Azerbaijan)
are a work in progress, a little too slow Rangers (Scotland)
in their ball circulation and somewhat Real Sociedad (Spain)
fragile defensively. New coach Marco RFS (Latvia)
Baroni would be wise to give plenty of Roma (Italy)
game-time to loanee front-man Boulaye Slavia Prague (Czech Republic)
Dia, who is particularly adept at working Tottenham Hotspur (England)
between the lines. Twente (Netherlands)
On paper, Istanbul outfit Fenerbahce Union Saint-Gilloise (Belgium)
are distinct long shots. But who would Viktoria Plzen (Czech Republic)
write off any side managed by the

WORLD SOCCER 57
CONFERENCE LEAGUE 2024-25

More change
The Conference League is also bracing for a new era, as Nick Bidwell explains...

Like all UEFA competitions, the UEFA’s other cups: clubs here face just six Will Chelsea’s balloon host of debutants to continental action,
Conference League has been the opponents rather than the eight different burst?…Christopher among them Germany’s Heidenheim,
Nkunku celebrates
subject of a recent shake-up with the foes scheduled in the Champions scoring v Servette The New Saints from Wales, Northern
introduction of a single 36-team league, League and Europa League. in the play-offs Irish side Larne and Petroclub Hincesti of
which will designate eight automatic The Conference League, in its essence, Moldova. Tellingly, some of the Conference
qualifiers for the knockout rounds and is all about hope and opening up European League Class of 2024-25 are barely out
the 16 clubs who will play-off to join club football to more countries than ever of nappies: Pafos from Cyprus are just
them. Only in one way does the before. There’s a refreshing, romantic feel a decade old, while Armenia’s Noah
Conference League differ from to the starting grid this season. A whole were only founded in 2017.

FAVOURITES
Chelsea, Champions League winners Conference League finals – to West Eduardo Bove from Roma and the
in 2011-12 and 2020-21, inevitably are Ham in 2022-23 and Olympiacos unappreciated Milan ace Yacine Adli.
everybody’s hot tip to go all the way. But last term – Fiorentina certainly have The widespread rumours that Real
after omitting the likes of Cole Palmer, a score to settle. How strange that Betis coach Manuel Pellegrini was on
Romeo Lavia and Wesley Fofana from the Viola, so often guilty of under- the verge of moving on this summer
their group-stage squad, the big question performing in Serie A, have recently proved to be unfounded and it’d be
is how seriously will they take it? Do the found their mojo in European battles. no surprise at all if the Verdiblancos
big-spending Blues use it as a chance They have an excellent young coach put in a sustained push for pre-
to grab silverware, to put themselves in Raffaele Palladino, appointed this eminence in the Conference League.
back in the saddle after a few lean summer after great work with Monza, Their attacking-third trio of Johnny
post-Abramovich years? Or will they and have made a host of impressive Cardoso, Isco and Pablo Fornals is
approach the competition as a culture acquisitions – not least ex-Manchester high-calibre incorporated, while Vitor
shock to endure? Fiorentina’s new United keeper David De Gea, striker Roque and Cedric Bakumbu provide
After losing in each of the last two keeper…David De Gea Moise Kean from Juventus, midfielder a potentially lethal strikeforce.

58 WORLD SOCCER
 CONFERENCE LEAGUE

IN CONTENTION
Surprise packages
…German side
Heidenheim

Panathinaikos, runners-up in the Panathinaikos new

European Cup back in 1970-71 and boy…Tete celebrates
scoring again Lille
twice semi-finalists in that competition
(1984-85 and 1995-96), underlined
their capacity to scrap for a result when only a Bundesliga outfit for 12 months, remarkably the first Portuguese club
beating top French side Lens 3-2 on could be the exception to the rule. Eighth to reach the Conference League proper.
aggregate in the Conference League in the German top flight last season, they And no one can say they did not deserve
play-offs in August. Lens were arguably will approach their first-ever continental it, winning all six of their qualification ties.
the better side over the two legs, but campaign with their usual characteristics: Boss Rui Borges has a wealth of talent
Panathinaikos were undoubtedly the fearlessness, belief and incredibly quick at his disposal, especially the Brazilian
grittiest and more opportunistic. The counter-attacks. Coach Franck Schmidt, wingers Kaio Cesar and the newly-signed
Greens have plenty of firepower, with now in his 18th season in charge, is very Gustavo Silva plus impressive homegrown
Fotis Ioannidis in attack and summer much in new territory right now, though defensive midfielder Tomas Handel.
recruits Tete (ex-Galatasaray) and is a quick learner. Three of their new
Facundo Pellistri (Manchester United) signings stand out: right-sided dribbler
on the wings, plus plenty of motivation
as they seek to match the exploits of
Leo Scienza (Ulm), teenage playmaker
Paul Wanner (Bayern Munich) and
WHO’S WHO?
their old rivals Olympiacos last season. the very technical centre-forward APOEL (Cyprus)
Many clubs of limited financial resources Maximilian Breunig (Freiburg). Astana (Kazakhstan)
struggle with the twin demands of domestic An established top-six force in Borac Banja Luka (Bosnia & Herz)
and European football. But Heidenheim, Portugal, Vitoria Guimares are Celje (Slovenia)
Cercle Brugge (Belgium)
Chelsea (England)
DARK HORSES Copenhagen (Denmark)
If Rapid Vienna, the famous Old Lady of Fourth in the Turkish Super Lig last Dinamo Minsk (Belarus)
Austrian football – national champions on term, Istanbul Basaksehir can blow hot Djurgardens (Sweden)
32 occasions – are in their best shape for and cold in Europe – recording 22 wins Fiorentina (Italy)
years, it’s primarily down to an exceptional and 21 defeats in their 59 continental Gent (Belgium)
summer of new signings, in particular jousts to date – but they certainly do Hearts (Scotland)
tremendously promising French centre- know how to rise to the big occasion. In Heidenheim (Germany)
back Serge-Philippe Raux-Yao (ex-Rodez), the 2019-20 season, they famously won HJK (Finland)
dynamic ex-Red Bull Salzburg midfielder away at Borussia Monchengladbach in Istanbul Basaksehir (Turkey)
Mamadou Sangare, playmaker Louis the Europa League and a year later, on Jagiellonia Bialystok (Poland)
Schaub – back at Rapid after spells in an unforgettable night in November Larne (Northern Ireland)
Germany and Switzerland – and exciting 2020, beat Manchester United 2-1 in LASK (Austria)
Croatian leader of the line Dion Drena the Champions League. Current coach Austria ace...Louis Legia Warsaw (Poland)
Beljo, brought in on loan from Augsburg. Cagdas Atan will be looking to Poland Schaub is back at Lugano (Switzerland)
Rapid Vienna after
Quantitatively and qualitatively, Rapid are striker Krzysztof Piatek and winger Deniz six years abroad Mlada Boleslav (Czech Republic)
much improved and head coach Robert Turuc to set the tone for a glory grab. Molde (Norway)
Klauss appears to have discovered a Noah (Armenia)
better playing system, scrapping a Olimpija Ljubljana (Slovenia)
4-2-3-1 for a more fluid 4-2-2-2. Omonia Nicosia (Cyprus)
Good enough to record a 3-2 home Pafos (Cyprus)
victory over Premier League side Aston Panathinaikos (Greece)
Villa in the group phase of last season’s Petrocub Hincesti (Moldova)
Conference League, Legia Warsaw are Rapid Vienna (Austria)
not a team to be taken lightly. They would Real Betis (Spain)
love to make the short trip to Wroclaw for Shamrock Rovers (Rep of Ireland)
the final and, with the extremely creative St Gallen (Switzerland)
Pawel Wszolek on the right wing and a The New Saints (Wales)
backline of newly-arrived Spaniard Sergio TSC (Serbia)
Barcia, Rafal Augustyniak and veteran Vikingur Reykjavik (Iceland)
Proven goalscorer Vitoria Guimaraes (Portugal)
skipper Artur Jedrzejczyk, they have
…Krzysztof Piatek
an experienced and combative side.

WORLD SOCCER 59
 SPOTLIGHT

The rise of England’s diminutive new midfielder

Words:
W d R Ryan Baldi
B ldi

W
hen Lee Carsley but he was the best. Luckily, he was and decided to seek opportunity
named his first squad at a club where skill was the main thing. elsewhere, joining French side Lille.
as England’s interim Everybody was convinced he was going “After the conversations I had with
manager in late August, to be good enough. Technically, he was the staff at Lille, it made the most sense
there were several new faces included one of the best we ever had. for me to go there because I knew I was
and, in particular, one surprise name. “We used to mix the age groups. going to get more of an opportunity;
But for anyone who witnessed Angel You’d have the youngest ones in with there was something in place,” Gomes
Gomes’ vast talents as he made his the oldest ones and they’d play in a told The Athletic in 2023. “At the time,
way through Manchester United’s cage. Even when he was three, four, United didn’t give me the gist that was
academy as a teenager, the only five years younger, he was the best, going to be the plan. I felt like I was
surprise back then would’ve been because it was skill that mattered in just there.”
that his first senior international those games. McGuinness, who’d left United in
call-up would take so long to arrive. “When I left United, I did a Sky 2016 after 26 years, believes Gomes
The son of a former Portugal interview. He was close to the first fell victim to a club in a state of flux.
Under-21 international, and godson to team at the time and I was asked Had his ascent to the first team come
ex-United winger Nani, Gomes signed what he was like. I said that if he in a past era, things might have worked
for the Red Devils at the age of six. was Brazilian, everybody would out differently for the youngster.
He consistently stood out as the top be saying he’s a wonderkid.” “I’d already left by then, but the
prospect in every age category through The man Gomes replaced when he club has been changing for quite a
which he progressed until, aged just 16 came off the bench for his first-team bit,” he says. “There were a number
years and 263 days, he became the debut against Crystal Palace in May of players back then who, if they’d
youngest player to debut for the club 2017, in the process becoming the first been in and around the senior squad
since Duncan Edwards in 1953. player born this century to feature in a in a settled team, might have had a
Standing just 5ft 6ins by the time Premier League match, was none other better chance. People like Angel play
he was fully grown, Gomes was always than Wayne Rooney. By this time, better with better players. That’s why
undersized. But it didn’t matter. His Rooney was 31 and playing in what it’ll be fascinating to see him with
skill, technique and invention stood would be his final league game for this England team.”
out. He represented England at every the club before returning to Everton. He was immediately loaned to
age category between Under-16 and It wasn’t a stretch to view Gomes Boavista to further his development.
Under-21 and was widely regarded as replacing the Old Trafford icon and And the consistent game time he saw
one of the best prospects of the century record scorer as a passing of the torch. in Portugal allowed Gomes to showcase
to emerge from United’s storied youth But Gomes would make just four his abilities, delivering six goals –
system. more Premier League appearances including one spectacular strike from
“He is a brilliant kid and a brilliant for United. The 2019-20 season was the halfway line – and three assists.
footballer,” Paul McGuinness, a former supposed to be his breakout campaign, He joined up with his new colleagues
long-time youth coach at United, tells yet the Carrington graduate played in at Lille the following season before
World Soccer. “He was always the just six games across all competitions. establishing himself as a regular
smallest in the group, so he stood A free agent that summer, he turned starter for the Ligue 1 outfit in
out even more. He was the smallest down a contract offer from United the 2022-23 campaign.

60 WORLD SOCCER
Angel Gomes
SPOTLIGHT

Historic…Gomes
replaces Wayne
Rooney for his
Manchester
United debut

62 WORLD SOCCER
 Angel Gomes

they’ve got the skills, they start up front.

Paul Scholes started as a forward before
he moved a bit deeper. In doing that,
you have the benefit of timing. As
a No.6, you have to stay behind the
ball more; you don’t get to learn the
timing of running on the blind side of
defenders and getting the connection
with the passer. If you’ve done that
and made those runs, when you drop
further back you know what you’re
looking for from someone else.”
And Gomes concurs that his
adaptation to a deeper role has been
informed and aided by his past playing
further forward.
“It was creating triangles with them
and creating ways to get my No.10 on
the ball because when I play No.10,
And for anyone who’d followed his Key creator…Gomes League. And we did miss him, because I want to be on the ball as much as
development at United, the diminutive assisted Jonathan we had no one who could get on the possible,” he explained of his role
David a Ligue1 high
attacker’s positional evolution has been six times last season ball and calm us down. Maybe that with the England U21s. “I want my
fascinating. Having shone as both a winger could have been his moment. I don’t midfielders to look at me because
and a No.10 at academy level, he has think he’s had that moment yet.” normally the No.10 is the link
often thrived in a deeper role in France. Those moments, thus far, have been between the attackers.”
“I thought he was a winger, and he reserved for the youth international scene. A breakthrough at senior international
played there a bit, but he didn’t really do Gomes captained the likes of Phil Foden, level was the first chapter in what is set
much,” Andrew Gibney, a French football Callum Hudson-Odoi, Jadon Sancho and to be a pivotal season for Gomes, who
expert and Lille supporter, says of the Morgan Gibbs-White in England’s U17 will play in the Champions League with
initial impression Gomes made at the World Cup triumph in 2017. And last Lille as his contract with the Ligue 1
Stade Pierre-Mauroy. club runs into its final year.
“When Paulo Fonseca came in [in An England debut has
2022], [Gomes] played as a defensive “People like Angel play better with better been a long time in the
midfielder alongside Benjamin Andre. players. That’s why it’ll be fascinating to making, and he justified
He was a deep-lying playmaker, getting see him with this England team” Carsley’s faith in him with
on the ball and pinging passes. Then Ex-Manchester United youth coach Paul McGuinness an assured cameo on
we got Nabil Bentaleb last year and his debut as a substitute
he played alongside Andre with Gomes against the Republic of
going to the No.10. That’s when you summer, he was the literal centrepiece Ireland in Dublin, before catching the
could see what Gomes could do. At the of a European Championship title for eye in his first start against Finland. In
back end of last season, a lot of Jonathan Lee Carsley’s U21s. the latter clash at Wembley, Gomes
David’s goals came from Angel picking “Lee played him as a playmaking showed that he belonged at this level,
passes and finding little holes of space.” midfield player in what would usually be knitting play together, keeping the ball
Although his return of two goals – considered the defensive midfield position well, showcasing his technique, making
both in the Europa Conference League – like other countries do with a Verratti angles for passes and constantly probing.
– was modest, the 2023-24 season was or a Pirlo,” McGuiness says. “That’s the If his upward trajectory continues
the best of Gomes’ young career to date. type of player that he is. Angel played throughout the 2024-25 campaign,
He provided a best-ever tally of eight as a No.6. That was a real statement. Gomes could at last hit the heights
league assists as Lille secured Champions “A lot of times, those players, because he’s long been expected to reach.
League qualification via a top-four Ligue 1
finish. In terms of expected assisted goals,
shot-creating actions and through balls,
he was one of the most impressive young
midfielders in France, yet Gibney believes
there is still room for growth in the
24-year-old’s game.
“There’s no game where he’s got
more than one assist,” he says. “There’s
no game against a big team where he’s
got a big goal or a big assist. Getting
assists against Lorient and Clermont and
Le Havre isn’t what catches the attention.
“There was one assist against Lyon last
year when we got beat, but there’s been
no big performance against Marseille, for Full debut…after
example. That’s what’s lacking. He was coming off the bench
against the Republic
unlucky last season because he missed of Ireland, Gomes
the Aston Villa games in the Conference started v Finland

WORLD SOCCER 63
 HARRY KANE

“Give me the chances

and I can put the
ball in the net”
Harry Kane was the Premier League’s top scorer on three occasions, but it
was only after joining Bayern Munich and scoring 36 Bundesliga goals that
he followed in the illustrious footsteps of Eusebio, Gerd Muller, Marco van
Basten, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. After being presented with the
2023-24 Golden Shoe by the European Sports Media group, which includes
World Soccer, the England captain discussed his new life in Germany
Congratulations, Harry. Is this a strange without Gareth Southgate there in the players here. It’s a great opportunity to show
special moment in your career? camp, he was a huge part of our success, so what I can do on both a European level and
Yes, I feel good, I’m playing for one I’m sure that will take a bit of getting used to a world level. It speaks for the move itself
of the best clubs in the world, I feel physically but Lee Carsley has a great understanding and that it was a good move in my career.
and mentally at the top of my game so I hope of what this England team can do from his
to have many more years to score plenty of work with the Under-21s. I’m sure he’ll bring How important is your family in all of this?
goals, give plenty of assists and win many his own energy into the senior team so I’m Everything. I wouldn’t be standing here without
more games. looking forward to that. The camps come them, for sure. Right back from when I was
I’m excited for where I am this season. around quick and I’m very proud to be young with my parents taking me to training, my
There’s a new energy in the building at Bayern starting the next journey to, hopefully, brother playing football with me in the garden.
and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can be successful in the World Cup. Now my wife, Kate, we’ve been together 13
achieve this season. years – we’ve known each other since school
What is your biggest challenge at club when we were five years old. She’s the one
How long did it take to recover from level to keep performing at such a who’s there when things don’t go so well and
England’s defeat in the Euro 2024 final? high level in a different country? I’ve had a bad game or didn’t score a goal.
When you lose a final like that it can take years Obviously coming here was my first experience She can say stuff that not many others can.
to stop thinking about it, but at a certain point of a big transfer and everything that goes into She’s always there to support me and keep
you start thinking about the new season and it. There were a lot of up and downs in that me grounded. We have four kids at home so
how we can get better from a club point of view. process and then things to sort out with my once I’m home I’m a Dad and a husband, and
I’m always motivated to be better and improve. family moving and my kids coming over, but that’s the most important thing in the house.
once I got here, in football terms, it was just
You have had an intense time for England about getting on the pitch and trying to focus Is there anything particularly
with three major tournaments in three on the team. I’ve always had a self-belief that German, maybe the cuisine, that
years as captain and top scorer. How do I can always score goals. Give me the chances you’ve discovered and appreciated?
you view the future with a new manager? and I can put the ball in the net. I knew with Food-wise the pretzel bread is my favourite,
I’m always looking forward to playing for the players we had I’d get those chances to be honest, but I can’t eat too much of it!
England. It’s something I’m extremely proud and, thankfully, the goals kept coming. We’re learning stuff as we go along. The kids are
to do and that will never fade. Of course, There’s a lot of talk about different leagues picking up German much quicker than I am so
we’ve just had another successful tournament and the Premier League was a big part of my I’m sure they’ll be teaching me before I know
but didn’t get over the line so it’s down to us to career, but the Bundesliga has been a great it! I said when I came here I wanted to get to
try to change that as a national team. It’ll be test for me with so many good teams and know the country and culture as much as we

64 WORLD SOCCER
 HARRY KANE

Reunited…Kane
clashed with his
new manager could and I think we’re doing that. The longer
plenty of times
we’re here the more we’ll get to know the
country and Munich. So far, we’ve enjoyed it.

What is your immediate aim?

To continue how I started last year and
hopefully to win the titles. We know last
season we fell short of what we wanted to
achieve as a team and I was part of that, so
as great as these individual awards are we’re
all hungry to have that success as a team
again. We have a great opportunity this year
to do that and prove people wrong as well.

Do you think you can beat Robert

Lewandowski’s record of 41 goals in a
Bundesliga season – is that on your mind?
That was an unbelievable record. It was spoken
about a lot last season and it was hard to keep
it out of my mind when I was asked about it

66 WORLD SOCCER
 Difficult summer…
Kane walks past
the European
Championship
trophy

ESM Golden
Shoe winner
…Kane with
his trophy
Credit: Kicker/
Picture-Alliance/
Gottschalk
Up and running…Kane scored his first league goal of the 2024-25 campaign with a penalty against Freiburg

after every game. At this stage in the season, was a player. A lot of us have played against What advice do you give to young
it’s not something I’m thinking about. For now him and know how tough he was and how people who look up to you?
it’s just going game-by-game and scoring goals passionate he was. He’s brought a style which, Whenever I’m talking to young people growing
to help the team win matches. I like to set as a player, is exciting. He wants us to be up who want to be successful – not just in
myself short-term targets, weekly and monthly, aggressive without the ball and I think we can football but in life – there are two things I tell
to get to certain points to help the team. If we only improve. The team is hungry, the coach them that helped me get to where I am now.
were in April and we were close enough then is hungry, and that’s a great place to be. One is being willing to work harder than anyone
it would be else, being willing to work behind the scenes
something I’d where no-one is watching, when it’s raining,
like to achieve “As great as these individual awards are we’re when it’s tough, when you feel like there is no
but for now my all hungry to have that success as a team again” reward – those are the moments that build the
focus is just on resilience inside you. The other thing is belief.
the short-term. You must have self-belief because if you don’t
The Champions League final will be believe in yourself not many others will – your
How is it progressing with here in Munich next year. Can you say: team-mates or coaches – so you have to have
new coach Vincent Kompany? “We must be there!” in German yet? that from a young age and believe that you
Really good. I’ve been impressed with the No, not really. I lost two months’ German can go on and do what you want to do.
energy he’s brought. He has great respect from language practice over the summer but, I think those two things are the cement
all the players not just for being the manager hopefully, by the time we’re there in the final in which got me to where I am now.
but the way he conducted himself when he Munich I’ll be able to talk in German about it! Interview courtesy of European Sports Media

WORLD SOCCER 67
 ASHLEY WESTWOOD

“I didn’t even know

where Charlotte
was, but it’s been
the best decision
of my life”
The former Burnley and Aston Villa midfielder sits down with World Soccer to discuss
his new life in MLS, rubbing shoulders with Lionel Messi, and what the future holds
You had a frustrating end to Whenever we’re on the road, even the lads play. Are you the same in MLS or
your time in England with an say: ‘We can’t wait to get back to Charlotte’. It’s have you adapted your game?
injury at Burnley. How did a big city, but not too big. We’ve got a big lake, I’m very similar. This year we have Dean
the move to Charlotte come about? Lake Norman, just up the road. You can hire Smith [in charge], who’s been unbelievable,
I obviously had the injury and I was close boats and go on there for the day. You’ve got a breath of fresh air. Now it’s a bit more
to calling it a day. I’d had enough. I was fed the mountains two hours away and the coast suited to my style. I drop into the back two
up with English football and the injury just three hours away. The weather is incredible, hot and dictate play from there. I’m thoroughly
topped it off. I got halfway through my and humid in the summer and with mild winters. enjoying it. It’s the Michael Carrick role, who I
rehabilitation and I was finding it really And the people are so friendly and welcoming. based my career on. Keeping the ball moving
hard. The physio who worked with me was I could be a travel agent for the city! and dictating the play. That’s the way I like to
incredible, he kept me going. Towards the play and we’re doing that now.
end of rehab, just as I was coming back to What’s your assessment of the standard
play for Burnley, this opportunity came about. in MLS? How does it compare to the What’s the stadium like? Is it odd playing
I didn’t even know where Charlotte was, but Championship and Premier League? in an NFL stadium, with the top tier of
I jumped at it and it’s been the best decision It’s really tough. I speak with [team-mate] the ground not always in use?
of my life, I’m not afraid to say it. Nathan Byrne about it a lot, as he’s played The first game of the 2024 season we
in the Championship. It’s very similar, it’s a opened the top tier and I think we got
Had you considered a move to Major physical league, it’s intense and everyone’s 63,000. We played Inter Miami in the last
League Soccer before? And, off the fit. But we obviously have the Designated game of last season to get into the play-offs
pitch, how have you found life in Players, and they’re incredible. They’re like and we had around 75,000 there. It doesn’t
Charlotte compared to in England? Premier League quality and they’re usually feel like an NFL stadium, it’s incredible. We’ve
I’ve always spoken about trying a different all at the top end of the pitch. That makes got a passionate supporters section behind
culture. I had Spain in my head, but then the difference. It’s like Championship level the goal, who are just wild. There are drums
I had two children and realised it would but with a sprinkle of Premier League going and it’s a special atmosphere. They’ve
be hard with the language for them. David quality, so it’s a very tough league. done a good job because it doesn’t feel
Beckham getting the franchise in America forced, it feels natural. It’s more of a party
got my attention. I’ve been to a lot of cities Premier League fans will remember you atmosphere than in England, where you
now and Charlotte is one of the best. as a deep-lying midfielder, dictating the always feel like it’s on edge.

68 WORLD SOCCER
69
 ASHLEY WESTWOOD

“Breath of fresh
air”…Dean Smith

The World Cup will be coming to the even at this club. We’ve got a brand-new
States in 2026. Do you get a sense of academy, which hasn’t been going long,
football really growing as a sport there? and I’d love to add my input and help out
It’s huge. I’ve got two kids who play football there. I’ve grown up doing what I’m told
and they’re at local clubs. The facilities are and doing everything by the book, and
incredible. It took me by surprise by how that’s what gets you there.
many kids play football, as I thought it
would be more NFL. What are your aims for the
It’s got the potential to really take off and rest of the 2024 campaign?
compete with Europe. A lot of teams also This is only our third year as a football club,
have football-specific stadiums and fill them which is a big difference to England where
out each week. The new St Louis stadium, clubs have been around for years. We’ve
which is a brand-new club, is getting over finished ninth [in the Eastern Conference]
20,000 a week, so it’s a growing sport and both years, but last year they changed the
the World Cup will make a huge difference. format so we got into the play-offs. I think
to get into the play-offs this year would be
You never crossed paths with Dean huge again for the club and then we are
Smith at Aston Villa, but how have slowly setting the foundations. I think we
you found working under him so far have the right man in charge to take us on.
at Charlotte? How he does compare to
other managers you’ve worked with?
I’ve got a mutual friend who knew him
very well, so I spoke to him and did some
groundwork on him before he got the job.
He’s incredible, just the way he interacts with
everyone. Everyone’s on board and willing to
work hard for each other. That has been the
biggest thing he’s brought. He’s very similar
to Sean Dyche in the way he works and how
he wants us to play. Steve Bruce was also a
great guy. He’s a mix between Steve Bruce
and Sean Dyche. He’s a great man and
I can’t speak highly enough of him.

Do you have any ambitions to go into

coaching yourself when you retire?
I think I would rather do the academy,
or the bridge between the academy and
first team, helping the young lads and seeing
them develop. We’ve got a young kid in now,
Nimfasha Berchimas, who made his debut
this season at 16. Me and Nathan Byrne are
constantly talking to him and giving him tips.
We’re sort of doing that role now and I think
that’s what I would like to do in the future – Iconic…Westwood shakes hands with Lionel Messi ahead of Charlotte’s meeting with Inter Miami last season

70 WORLD SOCCER
 Captain fantastic
…Westwood in
MLS action for
Charlotte FC

There have been some marquee arrivals different planet. He sees things you think are Are you hoping to stay
to MLS since you joined. Was it surreal impossible. We’ve got a picture shaking hands at Charlotte beyond 2024?
finishing above a team that had the likes before the game and my little boy has it as a I’m here for the long run. It’s a very special
of Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets? screensaver on his phone. We play football to club – it’s grabbed mine and my family’s
We played against Inter Miami in the last play against the best in the world and thankfully heart – and we want to be here for the
game of last season and we long-term. I’ll even help the kit man if it
needed to win to secure the keeps me at the club, that’s how special it
play-offs, and we beat them. “I can tell the grandchildren that I’ve is! I can’t speak highly enough of it. I’ve got
Lionel Messi turned up and played against two of the best players an option after this year, which hopefully they
filled the stadium as all the take on, and that will keep me for another
fans wanted to see him. It was that have ever played the game” year playing. But I want to play until I’m
an unbelievable occasion. I was 40. The move has rejuvenated me, and
captain and he was captain so I was face-to- I’ve played against Cristiano Ronaldo given me a new lease of life. I feel fit
face with the best player in the world – and when he was at Manchester United and so hopefully I can keep performing
probably the best player to ever play the game. now Messi. I can tell the grandchildren that well and they’ll keep me here for
I’ve played against some unbelievable players I’ve played against two of the best players many years to come.
in England but even at his age now, he’s on a that have ever played the game. Interview byJared Tinslay

WORLD SOCCER 71
 SPOTLIGHT

ON THE MARCH Why York United are the poster boys for
Canadian Premier League ambition
Words: Danny Lewis

A
s Canada’s impressive from the CPL that we’re doing a good
Copa America campaign job. It’s very exciting and it’s a privilege.”
– in which they defied the Many others will also be excited
odds to reach the semi- about those developments and Frank
finals – drew to a close, both head Sturing is among them. Born in the
coach Jesse Marsch and talismanic Netherlands to a Dutch mother and
Porto midfielder Stephen Eustaquio Canadian father, the 27-year-old
referenced how important the Canadian centre-back had played his entire
Premier League (CPL) can be for the career in Europe (with NEC Nijmegen
national team ahead of co-hosting and Den Bosch in the Netherlands and
the 2026 World Cup. SV Horn in Austria) and represented
There is also the feeling that the Canada’s national team twice in 2021,
excitement surrounding 2026 can help as well as being in their CONCACAF
the CPL, and York United are potentially Gold Cup squad that same year.
the embodiment of that on and off the “I spoke to a couple of clubs in
pitch right now. Europe, but also a lot of clubs here
Canada co-hosting the World Cup in Canada,” Sturing tells World Soccer
is an opportunity to strengthen the of his January move. “I’m Canadian,
nation’s footballing infrastructure, and I was always interested in making a
York’s new ownership group – fronted move and I felt like it was the right
by Mexican brothers Eduardo, Ricardo time. So, I spoke to a lot of clubs here
and Miguel Pasquel – is certainly looking in the CPL, and in the end I had the
to do that for their club as it currently best feeling about York United.”
plays at Toronto’s York Lions Stadium – The improvement of infrastructure
a university ground that hosts Canadian within both the club and the league
football among other sports. are something he has noticed. “I feel
“We’re exploring every possible like the league is growing fast, and one
angle, talking to as many people as of those things is getting more stadiums,
we can about a potential new stadium better stadiums. It’s encouraging and it
– especially as the World Cup is coming will be exciting to see where they’ll be
in a couple of years,” Ricardo tells World in a couple of years. I think it’ll be in
Soccer. “We are exploring every corner a good place.”
in Toronto for a new stadium with a full As commendable and vital as building
football field specifically built for that.” a club’s infrastructure is, the reality is
They are on a similar mission when that results on the pitch will be what
it comes to the training ground. Having ultimately decides whether or not a
taken over in November 2023, the club will be viewed as a success by
Pasquels feel they are in the perfect those looking from the outside in.
place to be putting in this kind of work, As in Major League Soccer, the
due to “the potential Canada has in the eight-team CPL is divided between
game from every possible angle”, while a regular league campaign – with
the nation’s growth ahead of 2026 the team that finishes top awarded the
is a key factor in their interest. CPL Shield – before a play-off system
Pasquel continues: “It’s even more determines the league champions.
responsibility but at the same time Before 2024, York’s highest finish in
there’s a trust from our group and the regular season was third and they

72 WORLD SOCCER
York United

WORLD SOCCER 73
SPOTLIGHT

Ambitious…York
United defender York United boss
Frank Sturing …Benjamin Mora

had made the play-offs twice in the better, and, of course, with the World identifying them and putting in the
league’s five seasons but never reached Cup coming up in 2026, that’s a dream time to help them develop, what this
the final. for everyone and it’s a dream for me.” can become. That’s the main purpose
They had also never been top of the The defender admits, though, of why we’re here and we want to be
CPL table at any stage of a season, but that making the jump from the CPL here for the ride.”
having lost half of their eight opening to international football is unlikely. As somebody who has plenty of
matches before Benjamin Mora’s arrival Realistically, a move to Major League experience of playing in Europe, Sturing
as manager, a run of just one defeat in Soccer (Canada has three clubs, CF adds: “Football is growing in Canada and
ten under the Mexican changed that. Montreal, Toronto FC and Vancouver getting better but other countries are
It was a 1-0 victory over Valour in Whitecaps, in MLS) will be the best way still a little bit ahead. So, I think all the
mid-August that took them to the to catch the attention of Canada boss experience and all the other insights
summit, albeit briefly. For Sturing, Jesse Marsch. from other countries can help grow
there is plenty more to come: “We “I feel like the CPL has to keep the league and football in Canada.”
haven’t shown the real York United growing in order for players to get Even so, he states: “I have to say,
yet, but I think we’re getting better called up [for Canada]. Right now it’s it’s going well already. I think in the
and better, and slowly we’re getting a little bit far to get called up if you play league and football in Canada in
on the level we need to be. Hopefully in the CPL. Hopefully soon we will be general, if you look to the national
we can surprise in the last 20 games able to get called up from the CPL team as well, it’s grown so much
and compete for the championship.” for the national team.” and has so many good players.”
Pasquel agrees. “It’s being not Even with much of the focus being For now, the strong Mexican
just champions in CPL but doing a on helping Canadians progress to that presence helping York extends to the
great job in the CONCACAF Champions point, foreign influences can still play playing squad, but Pasquel is aiming
Cup and win that one day,” he declared an important role in that development for a different look to his team in the
as his ambition. “We know maybe right across the league. In addition to York’s coming years, being keen to offer a
now, honestly, we’re far away but with Mexican owners, Atletico Ottawa are platform to more homegrown players.
good quality investment, with a good owned by La Liga giants Atletico Madrid “Hopefully, down the road we’ll have
plan, with how the CPL is going to grow and Pacific have a
two, three, four years down the road, partnership with
you may not be surprised if Canadian Bundesliga side “Hopefully, down the road we’ll have a full
teams challenge MLS teams and Bochum. Canadian roster because we truly believe the
Mexican teams. We truly believe “It’s amazing and talent is here”
it because the talent is here.” it’s taking advantage York United co-owner Ricardo Pasquel
While CONCACAF Champions Cup of these opportunities,”
glory is undeniably a long way off, the Pasquel enthuses. “All
Toronto-based club has proven that of the ownership groups at the eight a full Canadian roster because we
they can compete at the top end of the teams right now, they are business truly believe the talent is here,” he says.
CPL table and have a realistic chance people, they are soccer people. We “We truly believe in the investment we
of winning their first piece of silverware. know what we have to do to grow the should make by identifying young talent,
In doing so, they are also offering game and building on this kind of stuff, helping their development, helping them
a platform for players to show that it’s exactly what we need moving be the most professional they can be
they can make the steps needed to forward.” and ready for when they start playing.”
eventually represent Canada. “That’s Focusing on the impact that That belief is further enhanced
a goal and was also one of the reasons development can have, he adds: “I’m by the area York is in. “Toronto is
I came here to York and to the CPL, excited about this opportunity and truly a city where, hopefully down the
to get me a little bit more on the radar believe in when the Canadian Premier road, we get two, three, four, five more
again with the national team,” Sturing League is more established, when the professional teams because you have
says. “Football is growing a lot in quality of the players starts going up, the population,” Pasquel states. “If we
Canada, the national team is getting when we fully invest in the talent, do the good job I think we’re doing at

74 WORLD SOCCER
 York United

On the up…York
United players
celebrate a goal

building the club, being the standard in

the area, being the club that kids look
up to, that people look up to, we can be
that great club in the future and that’s
what we’re trying to build right now.”
Building is the key word for York both
on and off the pitch. The results have
already come in the short-term, but the
work is being put in now to ensure they
make the most of a defining moment in
Canada’s football history.
“It’s a daily thing that all clubs need
to be, and are, doing to make sure we’re
ready,” says Pasquel. “It’s about making
sure everybody knows about the league
Club owners…the Pasquel brothers at their first York United press conference and the potential it has.”

WORLD SOCCER 75
 COLOMBIA
League
FOCUS
Back in Colombia…
national team legend
Radamel Falcao
in action for
Millonarios

2024-25 TEAMS
Aguilas Doradas
Alianza CATEGORIA PRIMERA A – A BRIEF HISTORY
America de Cali Formed in 1948, Colombia’s professional league was arguably the strongest in the world in the
“El Dorado” period of 1949-53. By illegally poaching players, clubs seduced stars – most famously
Atletico Bucaramanga
Alfredo Di Stefano – with fat signing-on fees to play in the pirate league. Three decades later, the
Atletico Nacional league had its second controversial moment in the sun. Under the grip of ruthless drug barons, stars
arrived, stadiums were filled and rivalries were forged between the country’s big three: America de
Boyaca Chico Cali, Millonarios and Atletico Nacional, with the latter becoming the first Colombian club to win the
Deportes Tolima Copa Libertadores in 1989. However, as football became entangled in the blood-soaked era, a
referee was murdered on the orders of Pablo Escobar and the league was cancelled that year.
Deportivo Cali In recent times, Colombian clubs have found it hard to compete at South America’s top table,
with no side progressing beyond the last eight since Nacional won their second Copa in 2016.
Deportivo Pasto
Deportivo Pereira THE FORMAT
Still following the Apertura-Clausura format of two tournaments held annually, both championships
Envigado see Colombia’s 20 top-flight clubs play each other once before the top eight teams advance to a final
Fortaleza stage. Winners of each of the four-team groups then meet in a two-legged final with both Apertura
(January to June) and Clausura (July to December) champions earning a league title. Relegation is
Independiente Medellin determined through a convoluted three-year average point system with the worst two sides demoted
Jaguares to the 16-team second division, which is Colombia’s lowest professional step, at the end of the year.
Pressure is growing to switch to a year-long tournament and a straight two-down relegation.
Junior
HONOURS BOARD
La Equidad Club Title wins Runners-up Last title
Millonarios
Atletico Nacional 17 12 2022 (Apertura)
Once Caldas Millonarios 16 10 2023 (Apertura)
America de Cali 15 7 2020 (one season only)
Patriotas
Deportivo Cali 10 14 2021 (Clausura)
Santa Fe Junior 10 10 2023 (Clausura)

76 WORLD SOCCER
Do the recent big-name signings
of national team legends Radamel
Falcao and David Ospina suggest
ONE TO WATCH Yet again, this season’s results didn’t
live up to expectations. Atletico Nacional
were crushed 4-0 on aggregate by
that the league is getting stronger? Nacional (Paraguay) in the qualifiers
The return of idols from the 2014 World – where Aguilas Doradas also lost on
Cup generation have undoubtedly penalties to Brazil’s Red Bull Bragantino
injected new interest in a league – Millonarios finished bottom of their
that remains largely invisible for most group without a win and Carlos Bacca’s
Colombians behind a pay-per-view TV Junior were beaten comfortably by Chile’s
wall. Falcao’s arrival at his boyhood club Colo-Colo in the last 16. The arrival of a
Millonarios was particularly spectacular, handful of veteran players on short-
as fans snapped up all 33,000 season term deals is unlikely to change that.
tickets the Bogota club put on sale – Competing with the superior financial
a first in Colombian football history. muscle of Brazilian and Argentinian teams
Barranquilla club Junior, usually the is a problem for all of South America, but
most willing to splash big cash on the debate continues as to why Colombia
bombastic signings, hoped to achieve – with the second largest population
a similar frenzy when they asked on the continent – has consistently
about free agent James Rodriguez, but underachieved. Unless serious structural
he told them he wasn’t yet ready to go problems are addressed, recent history
home and instead joined Rayo Vallecano. is likely to be repeated.
Some returnees have undoubtedly
had a positive effect, with former Wigan Why are Colombian teams
and Fulham forward Hugo Rodallega repeatedly struggling to compete?
and ex-Sevilla and Milan striker Carlos The main issue is the way TV money
Bacca continuing to plunder the goals.
But with nearly all the returning stars in
Nicolas RODRIGUEZ and, essentially, power is distributed
between Colombia’s 36 professional
their late 30s and Falcao’s contract only (Fortaleza) clubs. When sports channel WinSports
six months long, the general feeling is was created in 2012, two categories of
that most players have simply opted for Having left his hometown as a young boy, Rodriguez teams were created: so-called “historic
one last swansong to neatly bookend initially struggled to adapt to life in Bogota with teams”, who would take a larger equal
their career. Bringing back the stars has Fortaleza and considered giving up football two years slice of the TV pie, and the smaller
created headlines, but this isn’t really ago. “I felt exhausted, things weren’t working out,” clubs able to acquire historic status
part of a serious medium-term project. the 20-year-old admitted. Fortunately, he had a by achieving three consecutive seasons
change of heart. This season he’s been outstanding in the first division. The quirk is that you
Does it in fact suggest that for the newly promoted high-flying side. From the never lose your top-level status meaning
talent is not coming through? right wing, he uses his wand-like left foot to pinpoint that 70 per cent of all Colombian teams
Colombia has demonstrated over the passes and crosses with a deftness that James currently receive the same $1.25m a
last few years that its business model Rodriguez would be proud of. The goal he scored year for broadcasting rights. Atletico
is to produce players for stronger against Independiente Medellin at the end of August, Nacional, with two Copa Libertadores
leagues, and it does it very well. nutmegging his opponent before tucking it into the and 17 league titles, receive the same
According to a recent report by CIES bottom corner, was one of the goals of the season. TV cash as Real Cartagena who have
Football Observatory, Colombia was spent the last 12 seasons in the second
the third-biggest talent-exporting nation division, or La Equidad who don’t have
outside Europe. In fact, over the last few will be significant improvement. No 200 fans to rub together. No other
years, the number of Colombians playing Colombian team has made it to the factor such as a club’s TV ratings or their
abroad has only been increasing. Not all semi-finals of the Copa Libertadores performance that season is considered.
Celebrity signing…
play at the highest level, but scouts know in the last eight editions of South Falcao is unveiled to Top clubs argue they are being
Colombia is a strong market that offers America’s premier club competition. the Millonarios crowd unfairly held back. Compared to the rest
better value than Argentina or Brazil. of the continent, the difference is stark.
From grassroots to professional level, For example, in Brazil, Flamengo’s TV
Colombia’s football infrastructure is income was $55m in 2023 with Chile’s
built with this objective in mind. Colo-Colo earning $6m. Even top clubs
Some clubs like Envigado, where in Ecuador and Peru pocket around four
the likes of James, Jhon Duran and Juan times as much. This, in part, explains
Fernando Quintero emerged, have been why big clubs have instead opted to
in the top flight since 2007 yet have no lean upon powerful sponsors or local
real ambition of winning the league; businessmen to fund big-name signings
they exist simply to churn out talent. like Falcao – Colombian brewery Andino
is paying for most of his salary – to
Can a Colombian team win the boost income through season tickets
Copa Libertadores once again? and merchandise. The current TV deal
We might see the odd isolated case is up for renewal in 2026, however, so
of a Colombian team bucking the we could be set for a shake-up.
trend, but it’s unlikely that there Carl Worswick

WORLD SOCCER 77
 Women’s Football
Glenn Moore

New season set

to get underway
A look ahead to the 2024-25 campaign
across Europe’s five major leagues
The champions of Europe’s top five English clubs. Up to the start of
leagues each retained their title last September, £5.18 million had been
season, which is unhealthy given a sense spent on international moves in the
of jeopardy is at the core of any sport. women’s game, more than double the
However, three of those title-holders previous year; WSL clubs accounted
have new coaches this campaign, and for £1.78m with a net expenditure of
while no one expects Barcelona to be around £1m.
deposed any time soon there may French clubs benefited most from
be changes elsewhere as Lyon and cross-border sales, realising £570,000 German champions… highest margin was 2.2 points (the PPG
Bayern Munich will
Chelsea adjust to new management. in profit, closely followed by those from seek to defend the in COVID-truncated 2019-20) and they
At Barca, continuity is the theme Portugal and Sweden. Frauen-Bundesliga only edged Manchester City on goal
with Pere Romeu stepping up from Chelsea’s new manager Sonia difference last season.
assistant to replace Jonatan Giraldez, Bompastor went back to France, City have added the WSL’s all-time
now at Washington Spirit. The “if it ain’t but not to her old club Lyon, instead record goalscorer Vivianne Miedema,
broke, don’t fix it” principle looks likely raiding Paris Saint-Germain for Sandy surprisingly allowed to leave Arsenal
to apply on the pitch too with minimal Baltimore and Oriane Jean-Francois. on a free at 28, highly-rated defender
squad changes. Veteran right-back Lucy Among many departures, Fran Kirby, Naomi Layzell from Bristol City, plus
Japanese internationals Aoba Fujino,
The big spenders in the transfer window, FIFA revealed, Ayaka Yamashita, and Risa Shimizu.
were English clubs. Up to the start of September, The latter, having played every minute
for West Ham United last year, is likely to
£5.18m had been spent on international moves settle the quickest of the Nadeshiko trio.
FA Cup winners Manchester United
Bronze has returned to England, joining so long the creative hub, left for have added experienced Dutch defender
Chelsea, winger Mariona Caldentey left Brighton along with Jelena Cankovic; Dominique Janssen (Wolfsburg), Brighton’s
for Arsenal, and goalkeeper Sandra England’s Jess Carter and Germany’s prolific Elisabeth Terland and Norwegian
Panos has gone to Club America in Ann-Katrin Berger went to NWSL team-mate Celine Bizet (Tottenham), but
Mexico with Manchester City’s Ellie club Gotham City, and Maren Mjelde lost a key trio in talismanic goalkeeper
Roebuck replacing her. returned to Norway with Arna-Bjornar. Surprise signing… Mary Earps (PSG), captain Katie Zelem
Vivianne Miedema
Striker Ewa Pajor has also arrived, Chelsea have won the last five titles, was unexpectedly (Angel City) and Lucia Garcia (who scored
from Wolfsburg. After finishing on the but their supremacy is fragile. The released by Arsenal twice at Wembley) to Mexico’s Monterrey.
losing side in three Champions League Among other new WSL signings,
finals, including in 2023 to her new club, Arsenal hope Daphne van Domselaar
the 27-year-old Poland international is (Aston Villa) solves their long-running
hoping the switch brings that elusive goalkeeper problem, Liverpool smashed
winners’ medal. their transfer record with £210,000
Real Madrid, who finished 15 points Canadian Olivia Smith (Sporting), and
adrift of Barcelona last season, will be Spurs added Australians Clare Hunt
aiming to mount a closer challenge this (PSG) and Hayley Raso (Real Madrid).
time after an overhaul that includes the There is also ambition in the
arrivals of Melanie Leupolz (Chelsea), second-tier Championship, notably
Filippa Angeldahl (Man City) and 2023 at London City Lionesses under the
World Cup winners Eva Navarro (Atletico ownership of Michele Kang who also
Madrid) and Alba Redondo (Levante). controls Washington Spirit and Lyon.
Centre-back Lauren, who impressed Besides the shock poaching of PSG
for Brazil at the Paris Olympics, is one coach Jocelyn Precheur, they have
of Atletico Madrid’s key signings, though signed Sweden’s Kosovare Asllani to
after falling at the first qualifying hurdle join former England striker Danielle
in the Champions League, beaten on Carter and Irish quartet Megan
penalties by Norway’s Rosenborg, Campbell, Grace Moloney, Ruesha
their season is off to a bad start. Littlejohn and Niamh Farrelly.
The big spenders in the summer In France, Fabrice Abriel left Fleury
transfer window, FIFA revealed, were to replace Precheur as PSG boss and

78 WORLD SOCCER
 become their fifth coach in four years.
Although Lyon finished 11 points
clear in 2023-24, PSG loanee Tabitha
Chawinga was the league’s top scorer,
so the French champions signed the Farewell…Alex Morgan waves
free-scoring Malawian ahead of their goodbye after her final game
first season under former Arsenal and
Juventus boss Joe Montemurro.
In Germany, the key transfer looked
to be Lena Oberdorf leaving former
champions Wolfsburg for the team that
usurped them, Bayern Munich, but the
holding midfielder suffered a serious
injury in July. Janina Minge, signed from
Freiburg to replace her at the Lady
Wolves, also took her national team
place and shone at the Olympics. Maybe
their manager Tommy Stroot, who has
also brought in Lineth Beerensteyn
(Juventus), will sign off by bringing the
title back in his final season at the club.
Beerensteyn’s old team are desperate
to regain their hegemony in Italy and
have had a major overhaul. Among the US ICON MORGAN RETIRES
recruits are Sweden’s Hanna Bennison After a stellar career including two
(Everton) and Emma Kullberg (Brighton), World Cups, an Olympic gold medal
Milan captain Valentina Bergamaschi and a host of other club, international
and high-profile Switzerland forward and individual honours, USA striker
Alisha Lehmann (Aston Villa). Alex Morgan played her final game
Roma, who finished 11 points clear in San Diego Wave’s NWSL meeting
Barcelona star… of Juve, have signed France’s combative with North Carolina Courage.
Aitana Bonmati Hawa Cissoko (West Ham) and, on loan The striker was denied a fairy-tale
recently signed a
new deal with the from Barcelona, Giulia Dragoni, already send-off when Courage keeper Casey
Inaugural edition…Monterrey take on Tigres
Spanish champions in double figures for Italy caps aged 17. Murphy produced an excellent penalty
UANL in the CONCACAF W Champions Cup
save in the tenth minute. Morgan was
substituted as the clock passed 13
minutes – a reference to the shirt to have accelerated the process.
number she has worn for the majority Minimum annual salaries will rise
of her career – to a standing ovation from $42,500 in 2025 to $82,500
from supporters, both sets of players by 2030. The current average US
and the dugouts. wage is $63,800.
Morgan, who scored 123 goals in
224 USA caps, ended her career CONTINENTAL COMPETITIONS
shortly after learning that she is BEGIN IN ASIA AND CONCACAF
pregnant with her second child. After several trial events, the inaugural
Asian Champions League kicked off
USL SUPER LEAGUE MAKES in August with 21 of the AFC’s 47
WAVES, INCLUDING IN NWSL member nations entering a team.
The new USL Super League made The preliminary stage, hosted
an instant impact, and not just in by Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Malaysia
impressive early crowds headlined and Bhutan, produced four group
by Carolina Ascent drawing 10,553 winners from 13 clubs. They joined
in Charlotte – topping anything eight automatic qualifiers to make
managed by two-time NWSL three four-team groups to be hosted
champions North Carolina Courage in China, Thailand and Vietnam, from
in their seven years in the state. October 3-12. Eight clubs will progress
Within days of USL’s opening to a single-leg quarter-final round.
weekend, the NWSL announced a Each club will receive at least
renegotiated collective bargaining US$100,000 with the winners earning a
agreement with their players’ union minimum US$1.3m. Japan’s Urawa Red
scrapping the draft (a feature typical Diamonds and Incheon Red Angels of
of US pro sports but unknown South Korea are the early favourites.
anywhere else) and ending the Meanwhile, the CONCACAF W
right of clubs to trade (transfer) Champions Cup also began its inaugural
players without their consent. campaign in August. Two five-team
The deal had long been in the groups will run to the end of October
offing, not least to enable NWSL to with the top two of each reconvening
compete with European leagues, but in May 2025 for a last-four stage, likely
both features are part of USL and to feature clubs from USA and Mexico,
the new league’s arrival does seem who each have three entrants each.

WORLD SOCCER 79
 STEVE EARL FOOTBALL PROGRAMMES (DEPT.WS)
BROAD STREET, BUNGAY, SUFFOLK, NR35 1AH, ENGLAND
or phone 01986 892621 or visit www.footballprogs.co.uk
2024 England v Finland (NL) £9.50 (inc.p&p)
2024 Community Shield (Man.City v Man.Utd.) £9.50 (inc.p&p)

ADVERTISING DOESN’T COST

CALL RUSSELL ON: 01732 445328

 ULTIMATE NEWS & RESULTS SECTION

Gl
I N al
ob
CL
UD
IN
Exclusive

G
di
ar
reports from

y
our worldwide
network of
correspondents

82 86
88

JAMES STEVE
NALTON MENARY
Leagues Cup Oceania 2026
World Cup
qualifiers &
Papua New
Guinea

MARK
GLEESON
Egypt

84

82 NEWS 86
82 Leagues Cup
84 Egypt: 2023-24 Egyptian Premier League
P L U S 86 Oceania 2026 World Cup qualifiers
88 Papua New Guinea

Leagues Cup… RESULTS, TABLES, FIXTURES

Columbus Crew are
crowned champions
90 Internationals
95 Club football 2026 World Cup qualifying…crunch time in Oceania

WORLD SOCCER 81
 United States & Canada
JAMES NALTON

Another trophy
for MLS’s finest
Columbus Crew reaffirmed their status as best in class at the 2024
Leagues Cup, yet doubts remain about the tournament’s value
he 2024 Leagues Cup a wider narrative to this year’s Leagues standout players. He scored twice and

T
saw another marker Cup that was otherwise missing from assisted a third in a man-of-the-match
added to the timeline this contentious new tournament performance in the final against Los
of Columbus Crew’s that pits MLS against Liga MX. Angeles FC, after which he was also
development under Nancy’s team added this trophy to named the tournament’s best player.
head coach Wilfried the MLS Cup they won last year and Last year’s Leagues Cup was the Leagues Cup
Nancy, further cementing their status as their CONCACAF Champions Cup final Lionel Messi show, after the Argentine champions…
Columbus Crew
one of the top teams in the Americas. appearance in June. It also confirmed made his debut in American soccer celebrate with
In the process, the Crew contributed Cucho Hernandez as one of the region’s against Mexican side Cruz Azul in the trophy
ew
vi
Re

82 WORLD SOCCER
 WORLD SERVICE

the group stage and his Inter Miami

Impressive coach
team went on to lift the trophy. But after …Wilfried Nancy
he picked up an injury in this summer’s
Copa America, this year’s edition had
to find something else to carry it.
Luckily, it found the Crew.
Much of the 2024 Leagues Cup
was defined by controversy. As a fairly
new tournament placed in the middle of
the domestic season, it took the blame
for MLS’s withdrawal of 18 of 26 eligible
teams from its domestic cup competition,
the US Open Cup. The league cited
schedule congestion as one of the
reasons for not competing in the Open
Cup but at the same time took all of its
teams out of domestic play for a month
for this tournament. There were fan
protests and even Leagues Cup
boycotts on the back of this.
The entire Leagues Cup being hosted
in the United States and Canada is also
controversial as this puts the Mexican
teams at a disadvantage. It makes any
MLS v Liga MX assessments more Canadian teams. This disadvantage for Player of the as well as America before losing to LAFC
difficult as the tournament is heavily one league also raises questions as to Tournament… in the semis. Securing Champions Cup
Cucho Hernandez
weighted towards the American and the integrity of the tournament as a qualification by defeating Philadelphia
path to Champions Cup qualification. Union in the third-place play-off gave
The finalists and the third-place them something to show for their recent
play-off winners qualify for the 2025 progress having finished bottom of MLS’s
Champions Cup but, as it turned out, Western Conference as recently as
no Mexican teams made it past the 2023 before the arrival of Armas.
quarter-finals. For the second year The Crew’s seeding also gave them
running, each of the three Champions home games throughout. Victory in the
Cup qualifiers came from MLS. final was their 29th win in 43 home
Even though this tournament was games under Nancy in which they have
further confirmation of the rise of Nancy’s lost just twice, and this home support
Columbus Crew to the top of North came in handy. It helped spur a comeback
American soccer, it was a pity that the from 2-0 down with an hour played to win
format didn’t give them a single match-up 3-2 against defending champions Inter
against Liga MX opposition. They are a Miami in the last 16, and was also useful
team that transcends MLS and one of during a penalty-shootout win against
the best in CONCACAF. Putting this to New York City in the quarter-final.
the test, as happened Elsewhere, amid
in the Champions controversy and
Cup earlier in the This tournament was further empty-looking
year, would have confirmation of the rise of Wilfried stadiums at some
been intriguing. Nancy’s Columbus Crew to the games, the Leagues
As reigning Cup showed that
champions from
top of North American soccer some Liga MX v
their respective MLS matchups
leagues, the Crew and Club America retain an appeal. There were 50,675
received byes to the knockout stages but spectators at Levi’s Stadium to watch
America suffered defeat on penalties to Chivas play San Jose Earthquakes in the
Colorado Rapids in the quarter-finals. group stage, which was almost 20,000
Putting the top four seeded Mexican more than had turned out for a friendly
sides in local hubs in the US eased their between Chelsea and Wrexham at the
travel burden, but Monterrey and Chivas same stadium a few days earlier.
didn’t even make it out of their groups, In the Messi and Miami era, crowds
Tigres UANL were knocked out in the are expected to flock to matches, but
last 16 by New York City after their hub in Messi’s absence that’s not always the
privileges expired, and America exited case. The question then for MLS and the
on penalties in that match with Colorado. Leagues Cup tournament it organises
For the Rapids, the tournament is: what else is there? The answer is a
served as a sign of their improvement potential all-time great MLS team that has
under head coach Chris Armas. Unlike stepped up to Miami’s level, and more. In
Columbus, they faced plenty of Liga MX situations like this, MLS, and the Leagues
opposition, knocking out Juarez and Toluca Cup, are lucky to have the Columbus Crew.

WORLD SOCCER 83
 Egypt
MARK GLEESON

The Egyptian kings

Al Ahly continue their reign as the dominant force of Egyptian and
African football after sweeping to yet another domestic league title
ew
vi
Re

or yet another season, It was their 44th title, 30 more than beat the previous record of 18

F
the all-conquering their arch-rivals and nearest historical successive victories in a single
dynasty that is Al challengers Zamalek who have won campaign, which Ahly set under
Ahly came out tops in 14 championships. their legendary Portuguese coach
Egypt and indeed in Having needed to catch up on Manuel Jose back in 2005.
the African continent, their fixture list after many of their This time around they had to catch
sweeping all before them despite an league games were postponed – as up considerable ground, and ended
extraordinarily lengthy and exhausting they were successfully defending their up playing 26 matches in just four
campaign. African title and because of the Africa months to complete their programme.
The Cairo giants won the African Cup of Nations finals in January – Al “It has been exhausting, but we
Champions League in May but only Ahly put together a record-breaking managed to navigate through it,” said
finished their domestic season in winning run of 21 league matches their coach Marcel Koller, a persistent
mid-August, taking the Egyptian from the start of May to make sure critic of the organisational foibles of the
Premier League title by six points of the title with three games to spare. Egyptian Football Association. He used
from runners-up Pyramids. The astonishing winning sequence 44 players during his league campaign

84 WORLD SOCCER
 WORLD SERVICE

SEASON’S
BEST

PLAYER OF THE SEASON

Mohamed Abdelmonem (Al Ahly)
There was plenty of European
club interest in the 25-year-old
centre-back after his stellar
season at the back for the African
champions, and he duly joined
Ligue 1 side Nice in August.

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

Wessam Abou Ali (Al Ahly)
Signed from Swedish club
IK Sirius in January, the Danish-
born Palestine international
forward scored 18 goals in just
Top scorer…
Al Ahly forward
19 league matches to finish
Wessam Abou Ali as the division’s top scorer.

COACH OF THE SEASON

in a masterclass of rotation and trying Jose Gomes, arrived in February and Marcel Koller (Al Ahly)
to keep players fit as Ahly finished with success in the Confederation Cup means The 63-year-old Swiss coach has
85 points. the 54-year-old Portuguese will likely been at Al Ahly for two seasons
In March, they also won the delayed stay for the immediate future. and has pretty much hoovered
2023 Egyptian Cup final with a 2-0 There was also a milestone for up every trophy available to
success over Zamalek with late goals 39-year-old midfielder Abdallah El-Said, him since arriving in Cairo.
from Emam Ashour and Mohamed who moved into third in the Egyptian
Magdy Afsha in Cairo. League’s list of all-time top scorers. He
In December, they were also is behind Hassan El-Shazli (176 goals)
victorious in the new-look Super and Hossam Hassan (168), the man
who took charge of
the national team
This was Al Ahly’s 44th title, in February.
which is now 30 more than their Second placed
arch-rivals and nearest historical Pyramids also had a Coach of
mid-season coaching the Season…
challengers Zamalek change with Krunoslav Marcel Koller

Jurcic taking over after

Cup, in which four teams competed Jaime Pacheco had been fired. They put
in a mini tournament in Abu Dhabi. together a 14-match winning run from hegemony. The club were only
Trips to the Gulf States, where there are April before Ahly beat them 3-2 in July. founded in 2008 and have nothing
well over a million Egyptian expatriate They have been runners-up for three of the fanbase that passionately follow
workers, are always lucrative money- successive seasons as they look to the Cairo giants, but do have plenty of
spinners. challenge the Al Ahly-Zamalek ambition and decent financial backing.
Zamalek won a first African trophy
in five years with narrow success in
the African Confederation Cup but
their domestic campaign proved
disappointing and they finished the
league campaign in third place, a
huge 29 points adrift of the winners.
Egyptian kings… They didn’t help themselves by
Al Ahly celebrate
another key victory
refusing to turn up to face Ahly in the
on their march Cairo Derby in June, protesting against
to the title perceived refereeing injustices following
a defeat to Al Masry. That stunt saw
them deducted three points and
handed Ahly a walkover win.
It was a particularly odd decision
given that they had already beaten Ahly
in the season’s first Cairo Derby in April,
not long after changing coach. The
Colombian Juan Carlos Osorio, formerly
national team coach of Mexico and Confederation
Cup winners
Paraguay, started the season but was
…Zamalek
sacked in November. His replacement,

WORLD SOCCER 85
 Oceania
STEVE MENARY
Pr
ev
ie
w

Oceania nations
eye World Cup prize
Expanded finals in 2026 allows the small islands of Oceania to dream big
he World Cup But the opportunity in itself makes the with the Solomon Islands playing Fiji

T
qualifiers in the latest qualifiers more interesting than and New Caledonia taking on Papua
Oceania region any others in previous editions. New Guinea in what should be a
have long been The 2022 World Cup qualifying highly competitive Group A.
fairly predictable. campaign saw the competing teams Fiji performed strongly in the group
Dominated by – due to COVID – head to Qatar for stages of the recent Nations Cup, when
Australia before their move to the a one-off tournament, but this time Rob Sherman’s side played – and won
Asian Football Confederation (AFC) hosting duties will be shared between – all three group games in the Fijian
in 2006, New Zealand are now the Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea capital of Suva. With Fiji starting in
undisputed top dogs in the region. and Vanuatu, with each matchday in Suva again and their veteran striker
With the expansion of the World the two groups played in a different and captain Roy Krishna, now aged 37,
Cup finals in 2026 to accommodate location. The winners and runners-up aware that this represents his last tilt
48 teams, Oceania now has 1.5 slots in both groups will advance to the semi- at playing in a World Cup finals, the
instead of 0.5, meaning the runners- finals and final to be played next March Fijians will be favoured to progress.
up get a second chance via an inter- in New Zealand, which will be a further New Caledonia were forced to
confederational play-off. That game, advantage for the All Whites. withdraw from that competition due to
whoever it involves, will be very tough. The fixtures start on October 10 political unrest in the French territory,

86 WORLD SOCCER
 WORLD SERVICE

but Johann Sidaner’s side should be

competitive providing they get to take
part this time.
Most of New Caledonia’s side
play domestically, but striker Lues
Waya is playing in the French third tier
with USSA Vertou and was among the
scorers when New Caledonia took gold
in the final of the Pacific Games football
tournament last year, edging past the
Solomon Islands in the final.
While New Caledonia did not even get
the chance to play at the Nations Cup,
the Solomon Islands had a tournament
to forget, losing both games. Star striker
Raphael Le’ai, now in Australia with
Adelaide City, will hope the World Cup Fiji legend…
qualifiers produce an improvement but Roy Krishna
they will not be helped by the format, Credit: OFC Media
via Phototek
which will take them from Fiji for their
first game to Port Moresby, Papua
New Guinea, for the final two games. opening fixtures. Captain and defender Vanuatu’s second game will take
In contrast, home advantage should Brian Kaltak won the A-League title in them to Hamilton, New Zealand, to take
aid Felipe Vega-Arango’s emerging Australia with Central Coast Mariners on a Kiwis side that thrashed them 4-0
PNG side (more on page 88) in what and last season’s AFC Cup and will play in the group stage of the Nations Cup
is likely to be a pivotal game with Fiji a pivotal role for Juliano Schmeling’s side. and then 3-0 in the final.
on November 14. If they can get a result, Vanuatu again start at home, against Tahiti also conceded five goals without
then the Fiji v New Caledonia game on a Samoa side that emerged from a short reply to the All Whites in the Nations Cup
November 17 should decide the group’s preliminary round staged in the Samoan – at the semi-final stage – and they will
other qualifier. face them again in the first
Group B looks With the expansion of the World Cup finals game, but they will at least
more predictable have the benefit of not
with the staging in 2026 to accommodate 48 teams, Oceania having to travel to New
format helping the now has 1.5 slots instead of 0.5, meaning Zealand for it.
side that are already the runners-up get a second chance via an Group B moves
highly likely to win. inter-confederational play-off to New Zealand for
New Zealand have the second and third
reached the finals of matches, with the hosts
the World Cup in 1982 and 2010 and capital of Apia in September featuring likely to coast through. The crunch game
look to have a relatively easy ride to the four lowest-ranked teams in Oceania. will be in the final round on November 18,
Group B rivals…
the semi-finals, although the All Whites’ Having seen off American Samoa 2-1, when Tahiti take on Vanuatu.
Vanuatu faced New experiences at the recent Nations Cup Samoa then prevailed against Tonga – With goal difference separating
Zealand in the 2024 will mean that Darren Bazeley’s side after the Tongans dispatched Cook Islands teams level on points, it is likely
OFC Nations Cup final
Credit: OFC Media
will not be taking anything for granted. 3-1 – winning 2-1 after extra-time, but that goals scored against Samoa
via Phototek Vanuatu showed the benefits of they are likely to struggle against three and conceded against New Zealand
home advantage in the recent Nations teams that all have realistic ambitions could well settle the runners-up spot.
Cup with the hosts making the final, of either winning the group or making While the one guaranteed OFC
and they will host both of the group’s the inter-confederational play-offs. place at the 2026 World Cup again
looks predictable, the runners-up slot
could be more wide open than ever.

THE DRAW
GROUP A
Solomon Islands
Fiji
New Caledonia
Papua New Guinea

GROUP B
New Zealand
Tahiti
New Zealand
skipper...Chris Vanuatu
Wood is likely Samoa
to star in the
WC qualifiers

WORLD SOCCER 87
 cup finals in rugby league, but in
Papua New Guinea football their best performance was
runners-up in the 2016 OFC Nations
Cup, while further back two bronze
STEVE MENARY medals were achieved at the Pacific
Games in 1969 and 1987.
Under Moon, PNG did leave the
Oceania region to take part in FIFA’s
new World Series and travelled to Sri
Lanka as preparation for this year’s
Nations Cup.
A goalless draw with the hosts
was followed by a 4-0 defeat to the
Central African Republic. “It was a great
opportunity for our players,” Moon told
World Soccer before his unexpected
departure. “We saw it as a success. It’s
about educating our players. They were
magnificent against the CAR, who had
a lot of experienced players.”
Moon, who left Brisbane Roar in
February 2023 after a slide down the
A-League table, had less success at the
Nations Cup, where his side were beaten

PNG upheaval after

5-1 in their opener by co-hosts Fiji.
A subsequent 1-1 draw with Tahiti was
a more creditable result and PNG left
after a narrow 2-1 win over Samoa

late coaching change

ahead of the start of Oceania’s
World Cup qualifiers this Autumn.
The Kapuls are reliant on Tommy
Semmy of Australia’s Werribbee City
up front, but some young players are
Papua New Guinea appoint Felipe Vega-Arango to replace getting experience overseas. Teenage
Warren Moon on the eve of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers defenders Raymond Diho and Lennard
Atterwell have joined North Geelong
Warriors in Australia and Alcochetense
elipe Vega-Arango ABOVE: FIFA someone to reside here in the country.” in Portugal respectively.

F
has been brought World Series The World Cup qualifiers present a The bulk of the squad are drawn from
…Papua New
in as the new head Guinea players real opportunity for smaller countries in the local scene, where Hekari – winners
coach of Papua New ahead of March’s Oceania who have long suffered from of the OFC Champions League in 2010
Guinea ahead of the friendly against New Zealand’s
Central African
start of the 2026 dominance, such
World Cup qualifiers in Oceania.
Republic
as Papua New “The reason behind his termination
The Spaniard takes the job after Guinea. is we have asked Warren to come
completing a second spell in charge of The All Whites and live in Papua New Guinea...we
the Solomon Islands and after the PNG are favourites to don’t want him to stay in Australia
Football Association’s decision to sack win and take the
Australian manager Warren Moon. one guaranteed and just fly in [to] visit the team”
The former Brisbane Roar coach spot in the finals, PNGFA president John Kapi Natto
led the Kapuls through the 2023 Pacific but the runners-
Games and the OFC Nations Cup earlier up advance to an inter-confederational – remain the team to beat, but it
this year, but lost his job this summer play-off and a rare opportunity to play is a complicated picture. The club was
after declining to relocate from Australia’s PNG star man… outside the Oceania region. controlled by Kapi Natto, who in 2016
Gold Coast on a permanent basis. Tommy Semmy PNG have regularly played in world led clubs to form a breakaway league
“The reason behind his termination is after his exclusion from PNGFA elections.
we have asked Warren to come and live After winning a subsequent presidential
in Papua New Guinea; to reside in the election, his wife Vonnie Kapi Natto took
country,” PNGFA president John Kapi over the club as general manager and
Natto told the local Post Courier. “We the eight-team Premier Soccer League
don’t want him to stay in Australia and started in 2022 as a replacement for
just fly in [to] visit the team, and go back the old National Soccer League.
to Australia [and] come back in again. While the club scene has now been
That’s not the long term that we want. stabilised, changing national team coach
“We took this matter to our NEC on the eve of the start of arguably PNG’s
[national executive committee] members most important series of World Cup
and they said it is not good. If we want qualifiers has created more disruption
a long-term [coach], we should bring at international level.

88 WORLD SOCCER
 THAT LASTS ALL YEAR!
Buy a magazine subscription for someone special

GIFT
A magazine subscription is the perfect gift: SUBSCRIPTIONS
FROM
• Personal, thoughtful and fuels their passion
• Provides enjoyment all year round £15.99
• And saves you money on the shop price!

OVER 45 TITLES TO CHOOSE FROM

VISIT SHOP.KELSEY.CO.UK/XMAS24
OR CALL 01959 543 747 AND QUOTE ‘XMAS24’
Lines are open Mon-Fri 8.30am to 5.30pm. Calls are charged at your standard network rate UK customers only. Offers end 31st January 2025

Annuals, Books, Calendars, Event tickets, Clothing

& Merchandise at shop.kelsey.co.uk/stocking
RESULTS, TABLES, FIXTURES

Internationals
Sep 10 – Bishkek Group B
Kyrgyzstan 2 (Kojo 15, Abdurakhmanov 35) Oct 10: Iraq v Palestine; Jordan
Uzbekistan 3 (Shomurodov 17, Aliqulov 45, v South Korea; Oman v Kuwait
Urunov 72) Oct 15: South Korea v Iraq;
Jordan v Oman; Palestine v Kuwait
2026 WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS Sep 10 – Quito Current Standings
Ecuador 1 (Valencia 54) P W D L F A Pts Group C
Oct 10: Australia v China; Saudi
SOUTH AMERICA Section Peru 0 Uzbekistan 2 2 0 0 4 2 6
Arabia v Japan; Bahrain v Indonesia
● 6 direct slots available, plus 1 play-off slot Ecuador: Galindez – Torres, Pacho, Iran 2 2 0 0 2 0 6
Hincapie; Preciado, Franco, Caicedo, UAE 2 1 0 1 3 2 3 Oct 15: Japan v Australia; Saudi
Sep 5 – El Alto Estupinan (Chavez 87); Mercado (Yeboah 59), North Korea 2 0 1 1 2 3 1 Arabia v Bahrain; China v Indonesia
Bolivia 4 (R. Vaca 13, Algaranaz 45+5 pen, Valencia (Rodriguez 67), Paez (Vite 58). Qatar 2 0 1 1 3 5 1
Terceros 46, Monteiro 89) Peru: Gallese – Araujo, Santamaria (Zambrano Kyrgyzstan 2 0 0 2 2 4 0
Venezuela 0 46), Callens; Advincula (Sonne 46), Cartagena OCEANIA Section
Bolivia: Lampe – Medina, Haquin, Suarez; (Archimbaud 46), Tapia, Pena (Quispe 68), Group B ● 1 direct slot available, plus 1 play-off slot
H. Cuellar, Matheus (Camacho 85), Chavez Lopez; Valera (Ormeno 79), Lapadula.
(Sagredo 46), Fernandez (Paz 75); H. Vaca Sep 5 – Seoul
First Round
(Terceros 34), Alganaraz (Monteiro 75), R. Vaca. Sep 10 – Maturin South Korea 0
Venezuela: Romo – Murillo (Machis 46), Venezuela 0 Matchday 1
Palestine 0
Ferraresi (Makoun 57), Osorio, Aramburu, Uruguay 0
Navarro; Segovia, Martinez (Soteldo 46), Pereira Venezuela: Romo – Aramburu, Osorio, Sep 6 – Apia
Sep 5 – Basra Cook Islands 1 (Kumsuz 63)
(Casseres Jr 58); Cadiz (Andrade 66), Rondon. Ferraresi, Navarro; Casseres Jr (Rincon 82);
Iraq 1 (Hussein 13) Tonga 3 (Tikoipau 27, Polovili 39 pen, Kefu 79)
Bello (Machis 59), Martinez, Segovia (Savarino
Sep 5 – Buenos Aires Oman 0
59), Soteldo; Rondon (Cadiz 90+1).
Argentina 3 (Mac Allister 48, Alvarez 84, Uruguay: Rochet – Varela, Bueno, Sep 6 – Apia
Dybala 90+1) Caceres (Marichal 5), Olaza; Martinez, Ugarte, Sep 5 – Amman American Samoa 0
Chile 0 B. Rodriguez (Torres 54, Fonseca 88); Pellistri Jordan 1 (Al Tamari 14) Samoa 2 (Tumua 59 pen, Vaai 90+8)
Argentina: E. Martinez – Otamendi, Romero, (Saracchi 88), Olivera, M. Araujo (Merential 46). Kuwait 1 (Nasser 90+2 pen)
Li. Martinez (Acuna 79); Molina, De Paul, Matchday 2
Mac Allister (Dybala 79), Fernandez, Gonzalez Sep 10 – Asuncion Sep 10 – Muscat
(Lo Celso 51); Alvarez (Castellanos 89), Paraguay 1 (D. Gomez 20) Oman 1 (Jung Seung-hyun 45+2 og) Sep 9 – Apia
La. Martinez (Garnacho 79). Brazil 0 South Korea 3 (Hwang Hee-chan 10, Tonga 1 (Sonasi 45+1)
Chile: Arias – Isla, Catalan, Diaz, Galdames Paraguay: Fernandez – Caceres, Balbuena, Son Heung-min 82, Joo Min-kyu 90+11) Samoa 2 (Salisbury 82, Faamatau 105+3)
(Mena 72); Osorio, Echeverria (Baeza 72), Alderete (Velazquez 39), Alonso; Villasanti, After Extra-Time
Nunez (Alarcon 61); Loyola, Vargas (Brereton Bobadilla; D. Gomez (Sosa 66), Enciso (Riveros Sep 10 – Kuala Lumpur
Diaz 79), Davila (Palacios 61). 85), Almiron (Cuenca 86); Pitta (Arce 67). Palestine 1 (W. Ali 41) Second Round Fixtures
Brazil: Alisson – Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel, Jordan 3 (Al Naimat 5, 50, Al Rawabdeh 72)
Sep 6 – Montevideo Guilherme Arana (Estevao Willian 86); Paqueta Group A
Uruguay 0 (Gerson 79), Andre, Bruno Guimaraes (Luiz Sep 10 – Kuwait City Oct 10: New Caledonia v Papua
Paraguay 0 Henrique 46); Rodrygo (Lucas Moura 79), Kuwait 0 New Guinea; Solomon Islands v Fiji
Uruguay: Rochet – Nandez, Marichal (Bueno Endrick (Joao Pedro 46), Vinicius Junior. Iraq 0 Nov 14: Solomon Islands v New
46), Caceres, Olaza (Saracchi 77); Valverde, Caledonia; Papua New Guinea v Fiji
Ugarte (Martinez 79), B. Rodriguez (Torres 80); Current Standings Current Standings Nov 17: Fiji v New Caledonia; Papua
Pellistri (Olivera 59), Suarez, M. Araujo. P W D L F A Pts P W D L F A Pts New Guinea v Solomon Islands
Paraguay: Fernandez – Velazquez, G. Gomez, Argentina 8 6 0 2 12 4 18 Jordan 2 1 1 0 4 2 4
Alderete, Alonso; Cubas (Villasanti 56), D. Gomez Colombia 8 4 4 0 9 5 16 South Korea 2 1 1 0 3 1 4 Group B
(Sosa 61); Enciso, Bobadilla (Viera 82), Almiron Uruguay 8 4 3 1 13 5 15 Iraq 2 1 1 0 1 0 4 Oct 11-12:
(Romero 82); Pitta (Arce 61). Ecuador* 8 4 2 2 6 4 11 New Zealand v Tahiti; Vanuatu v Samoa
Kuwait 2 0 2 0 1 1 2
Brazil 8 3 1 4 9 8 10 Palestine 2 0 1 1 1 3 1 Nov 15:
Sep 6 – Curitiba Samoa v Tahiti; New Zealand v Vanuatu
Venezuela 8 2 4 2 6 7 10 Oman 2 0 0 2 1 4 0
Brazil 1 (Rodrygo 30) Nov 18:
Paraguay 8 2 3 3 2 3 9
Ecuador 0 Tahiti v Vanuatu; Samoa v New Zealand
Bolivia 8 3 0 5 10 15 9 Group C
Brazil: Alisson – Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel,
Chile 8 1 2 5 4 12 5
Guilherme Arana (Wendell 74); Andre (Joao
Peru 8 0 3 5 2 10 3 Sep 5 – Saitama
Gomes 85), Bruno Guimaraes (Gerson 62); 2024-25 UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE
*Deducted 3 points Japan 7 (Endo 12, Mitoma 45+2, Minamino 52,
Luiz Henrique (Estevao Willian 62), Paqueta
(Lucas Moura 72), Vinicius Junior; Rodrygo. 58, J. Ito 77, Maeda 87, Kubo 90+5)
Ecuador: Galindez – Torres, Pacho, Hincapie;
Fixtures China 0 Group A1
Franco, Caicedo, Mendez (Gruezo 46), Sep 5 – Lisbon
Matchday 9 Sep 5 – Gold Coast
Sarmiento (Paez 46), Estupinan (Medina 85); Portugal 2 (Dalot 7, Ronaldo 34)
Oct 10-11: Australia 0
Rodriguez (Mercado 68), Valencia (Yeboah 68). Croatia 1 (Dalot 41 og)
Peru v Uruguay; Venezuela v Argentina; Bolivia Bahrain 1 (Souttar 89 og)
v Colombia; Chile v Brazil; Ecuador v Paraguay Portugal: Costa – Dalot, Dias, Inacio (A. Silva 77),
Sep 6 – Lima
Peru 1 (Callens 68) Mendes; B. Silva, Vitinha (Pote 90), Fernandes;
Sep 5 –Jeddah
Colombia 1 (Diaz 82) Matchday 10 Neto (Semedo 46), Ronaldo (Jota 88), Leao
Saudi Arabia 1 (Al Juwayr 45+3)
Peru: Gallese – Araujo, Zambrano, Callens Oct 14-15: (J. Neves 46).
Indonesia 1 (Oratmangoen 19)
(Abram 82); Advincula, Cartagena (Polo 90+4), Uruguay v Ecuador; Colombia v Chile; Brazil v Croatia: Livakovic – Sutalo, Pongracic (Caleta-
Tapia, Pena (Archimbaud 82), Lopez; Valera Peru; Paraguay v Venezuela; Argentina v Bolivia Car 46), Gvardiol; Jakic (Perisic 76), Modric
Sep 10 – Riffa (P. Sucic 77), Kovacic, Baturina (Matanovic 61),
(Ormeno 88), Lapadula (Reyna 81). Bahrain 0
Colombia: Vargas – Munoz, Cuesta Sosa; Mario Pasalic (L. Sucic 67), Kramaric.
(Mina 46), Lucumi, Monica; Rios, Lerma, ASIA Section Japan 5 (Ueda 37 pen, 47, Morita 61, 64,
Ogawa 81)
J. Arias (Asprilla 72); Sinisterra (James 46), ● 8 direct slots available, plus 1 play-off slot Sep 5 – Glasgow
Cordoba (Duran 72), Diaz. Scotland 2 (Gilmour 46, McTominay 76)
Third Round Sep 10 – Dalian Poland 3 (S. Szymanski 8, Lewandowski 44 pen,
Sep 10 – Barranquilla China 1 (Lajami 14 og) Zalewski 90+7 pen)
Colombia 2 (Mosquera 25, James 60 pen) Group A Saudi Arabia 2 (Kadesh 39, 90) Scotland: Gunn – Ralston, Hanley, McKenna,
Argentina 1 (Gonzalez 48) Robertson; Gilmour (Morgan 82), McLean
Colombia: Vargas – Munoz, Mosquera Sep 5 – Fuladshahr Sep 10 –Jakarta (Doak 71); McGinn, McTominay, Christie
(Cabal 88), Lucumi, Monica; Rios, Lerma, Iran 1 (Taremi 34) Indonesia 0 (Gauld 71); Dykes (Shankland 71).
J. Arias (Castano 79); James (Portilla 90+3), Kyrgyzstan 0 Australia 0 Poland: Bulka – Bednarek, Dawidowicz, Kiwior
Duran (Cordoba 79), Diaz. (Walukiewicz 46); Frankowski, S. Szymanski
Argentina: E. Martinez – Montiel (Molina 46), Sep 5 – Al Rayyan Current Standings (Slisz 82), Zielinski (Moder 82), Urbanski,
Otamendi, Romero, Li. Martinez (Acuna 64); Qatar 1 (Al Hassan 38) P W D L F A Pts Zalewski; Piatek (Piotrowski 72),
De Paul (Lo Celso 74), Paredes (Mac Allister United Arab Emirates 3 (Abdalla 68, Japan 2 2 0 0 12 0 6 Lewandowski (Buksa 72).
64), Fernandez (Dybala 85), Gonzalez; Ibrahim 80, Saleh 90+4) Saudi Arabia 2 1 1 0 3 2 4
Alvarez, La. Martinez. Bahrain 2 1 0 1 1 5 3 Sep 8 – Osijek
Sep 5 – Tashkent Indonesia 2 0 2 0 1 1 2 Croatia 1 (Modric 52)
Sep 10 – Santiago Uzbekistan 1 (Masharipov 20) Australia 2 0 1 1 0 1 1 Poland 0
Chile 1 (Vargas 39) North Korea 0 China 2 0 0 2 1 9 0 Croatia: Livakovic – Sutalo, Caleta-Car,
Bolivia 2 (Alganaraz 13, Terceros 45+1) Gvardiol; Pjaca, P. Sucic (L. Sucic 46), Modric,
Chile: Arias – Isla, Catalan, Diaz, Suazo; Sep 10 – Al Ain Fixtures Kovacic (Mario Pasalic 79), Sosa (Perisic 90+1);
Osorio (Tapia 61), Pulgar, Davila (Meneses 60); United Arab Emirates 0 Matanovic (Budimir 69), Petkovic (Kramaric 69).
Palacios; Vargas, Brereton Diaz (Pizarro 35). Iran 1 (Ghayedi 45+3) Group A Poland: Skorupski – Kaminski (Frankowski 82),
Bolivia: Lampe (Viscarra 45+1) – Medina, Oct 10: Qatar v Kyrgyzstan; Uzbekistan Walukiewicz, Bednarek, Dawidowicz, Zalewski;
Haquin, Suarez, Sagredo; Matheus (V. Cuellar Sep 10 – Vientiane v Iran; United Arab Emirates v North Korea Bogusz (Swiderski 62), S. Szymanski (Piotrowski
90+3), E. Vaca, Villamil; Terceros (Rocha 68), North Korea 2 (Ri Il-song 19, Kang Kuk-chol 52) Oct 15: Iran v Qatar; Uzbekistan v United 86), Zielinski (Slisz 62), Urbanski (Moder 62);
Alganaraz, Fernandez. Qatar 2 (Afif 31 pen, Almoez 44) Arab Emirates; Kyrgyzstan v North Korea Lewandowski.

90 WORLD SOCCER
 RESULTS, TABLES, FIXTURES

Sep 8 – Lisbon (Weghorst 74), Gakpo. Group B1 Schuller (Walta 84), Kamara; Jensen (Lod 63),
Portugal 2 (Fernandes 54, Ronaldo 88) Bosnia & Herz: Vasilj – Gazibegovic, Barisic, Pukki (Kallman 46), Keskinen (Antman 74).
Scotland 1 (McTominay 7) Katic, Mujakic (Burnic 68), Dedic; Huseinbasic Sep 7 – Tbilisi
Portugal: Costa – Semedo (Dalot 76), A. Silva, (Bajraktarevic 68), Tahirovic (Krunic 46), Gigovic Georgia 4 (Kvaratskhelia 33 pen, Chakvetadze 53, Sep 10 – Dublin
Dias, Mendes; B. Silva (J. Neves 68), Palhinha (Saric 69); Dzeko, Demirovic (Tabakovic 83). Mikautadze 63, Kochorashvili 66) Republic of Ireland 0
(R. Neves 46), Fernandes; Neto (Ronaldo 46), Czech Republic 1 (Kalvach 80) Greece 2 (Ioannidis 50, Tzolis 87)
Jota, Leao (Felix 68). Sep 10 – Budapest Georgia: Mamardashvili – Gvelesiani Republic of Ireland: Kelleher – Omobamidele
Scotland: Gunn – Ralston, Hanley, McKenna, Hungary 0 (Goglichidze 88), Kashia, Dvali; Kakabadze (Doherty 74), Collins, O’Shea, Brady; Ogbene
Robertson; Gilmour, McLean (Gauld 74); Christie Bosnia & Herzegovina 0 (Gocholeishvili 75), Chakvetadze (Davitashvili (Robinson 84), Browne, Smallbone, Molumby
(Morgan 87), McTominay, McGinn (Doak 90+1); Hungary: Dibusz – Botka (Balogh 83), Orban, 75), Kochorashvili, Kiteishvili (Nonikashvili 75), (Ferguson 64), Knight (McAteer 74);
Dykes (Conway 74). Dardai; Bolla (Csoboth 75), Nikitscher, Schafer, Lochoshvili; Mikautadze (Zivzivadze 75), Szmodics (Idah 84).
Z. Nagy (Kerkez 83); Sallai, Szoboszlai; Varga Kvaratskhelia. Greece: Vlachodimos – Rota, Mavropanos,
Current Standings (Adam 82). Czech Republic: Kovar – Zima, Hranac, Koulierakis, Tsimikas; Bouchalakis (Pelkas 68),
P W D L F A Pts Bosnia & Herzegovina: Vasilj – Gazibegovic, Krejci; Coufal, Soucek, Kral (Kalvach 46), Siopis (Ntoi 88); Chatzigiovanis (Zafeiris 67),
Portugal 2 2 0 0 4 2 6 Bicakcic, Katic, Barisic, Dedic; Saric (Gigovic 61), Rynes (Zeleny 26); Provod (Sulc 76), Bakasetas, Tzolis (Vagiannidis 89);
Croatia 2 1 0 1 2 2 3 Basic (Huseinbasic 61), Burnic (Tahirovic 46); Cvancara (Lingr 46); Schick (Hlozek 68). Ioannidis (Pavlidis 88).
Poland 2 1 0 1 3 3 3 Demirovic (Bajraktarevic 77), Dzeko.
Scotland 2 0 0 2 3 5 0 Sep 7 – Prague Current Standings
Sep 10 – Amsterdam Ukraine 1 (Konoplya 49) P W D L F A Pts
Group A2 Netherlands 2 (Reijnders 2, Dumfries 50) Albania 2 (Ismajli 54, Asani 66) Greece 2 2 0 0 5 0 6
Germany 2 (Undav 38, Kimmich 45+3) Ukraine: Trubin – Konoplya, Zabarnyi, England 2 2 0 0 4 0 6
Sep 6 – Debrecen Netherlands: Verbruggen – Dumfries, De Ligt Matviyenko, Mykolenko; Brazhko (Malinovskyi Rep. of Ireland 2 0 0 2 0 4 0
Belgium 3 (De Bruyne 21, 51 pen, Tielemans 48) (Van Hecke 46), Van Dijk, Ake (J. Timber 45); 81); Tsyhankov (Zinchenko 81), Sudakov Finland 2 0 0 2 0 5 0
Israel 1 (Castagne 36 og) Schouten (Q. Timber 46), Gravenberch; Simons (Yarmolenko 72), Shaparenko (Vanat 73),
Belgium: Casteels – Castagne, Faes, Theate, De (Geertruida 74), Reijnders, Gakpo; Brobbey Kabaiev (Pikhalyonok 72); Yaremchuk. Group B3
Cuyper (Debast 64); Onana, Tielemans (Engels (Weghorst 82). Albania: Strakosha – Hysaj, Ismajli, Kumbulla,
74); Lukebakio (Bakayoko 82), De Bruyne, Doku Sep 6 – Almaty
Germany: Ter Stegen – Kimmich, Tah (Anton Mitaj; Ramadani, Asllani; Asani, Laci (Berisha Kazakhstan 0
(Duranville 74); Openda (De Ketelaere 64). 46), Schlotterbeck, Raum; Andrich (Can 64), 73), Bajrami (Hoxha 77); Manaj.
Israel: Gerafi – Nachmias, Schlomo, Gandelman Norway 0
Gross (Pavlovic 63); Wirtz, Havertz, Musiala Kazakhstan: Shatskiy – Bystrov, Kasym,
(Revivo 63); Jehezkel, Lavi, Abu Fani (Jaber 68), (Fuhrich 89); Undav (Beier 63). Sep 10 – Tirana
Marochkin, Alip, Vorogovskiy; Orazov (Abiken 58),
Gropper (David 64); Solomon (Biton 80), Albania 0
Gloukh (Peretz 63); Khalaili. Georgia 1 (Kochorashvili 71) Tagybergen, Zaynutdinov (Karimov 63), Chesnokov
Current Standings
Albania: Strakosha – Hysaj, Ismaji, (Astanov 80); Amybetov (Samorodov 59).
P W D L F A Pts
Sep 6 – Paris Kumbulla, Mitaj; Ramadani, Asllani; Norway: Nyland – Ryerson, Ostigard, Hanche-
Germany 2 1 1 0 7 2 4
France 1 (Barcola 1) Asani (Spahiu 73), Bajrami (Uzuni 81), Olsen, Moller Wolfe; Odegaard, Berg (Berge 70),
Netherlands 2 1 1 0 7 4 4
Italy 3 (Dimarco 30, Frattesi 51, Raspadori 74) Myhre (Strand Larsen 70); Sorloth (Donnum 70),
Bosnia & Herz 2 0 1 1 2 5 1 Hoxha (Laci 61); Manaj (Seferi 72).
France: Maignan – Clauss (Kounde 77), Georgia: Mamardashvili – Gvelesiani, Kashia, Haaland, Nusa (Egeli 84).
Hungary 2 0 1 1 0 5 1
Konate, Saliba, T. Hernandez; Fofana (Kone 58), Dvali; Kakabadze, Kochorashvili (Altunashvili
Group A4 Sep 6 – Ljubljana
Kante (Zaire-Emery 77); Olise (Dembele 58), 90+3), Chakvetadze, Kiteishvili, Lochoshvili; Slovenia 1 (Sesko 16 pen)
Griezmann (Thuram 77), Barcola; Mbappe. Sep 5 – Copenhagen Mikautadze (Zivzivadze 86), Kvaratskhelia Austria 1 (Laimer 28)
Italy: Donnarumma – Di Lorenzo, Bastoni, Denmark 2 (Dorgu 82, Hojbjerg 90+2) (Davitashvili 75). Slovenia: Vidosek – Brekalo (Balkovec 86),
Calafiori (Buongiorno 71); Cambiaso, Frattesi Switzerland 0
Sep 10 – Prague Drkusic, Bijol, Janza; Stojanovic, Cerin, Elsnik,
(Udogie 62), Ricci, Tonali, Dimarco (Brescianini Denmark: Schmeichel – Andersen,
Czech Rep 3 (Sulc 21, 45+2, Soucek 80 pen) Lovric (Celar 63); Sesko, Sporar (Mlakar 63).
81); Pellegrini (Raspadori 46); Retegui (Kean 81). Vestergaard, Nelsson (Dorgu 81); Bah, Hojbjerg,
Ukraine 2 (Vanat 37, Sudakov 84) Austria: Pentz – Mwene, Posch, Wober, Prass;
Sep 9 – Lyon Hjulmand (Norgaard 90+1), Kristiansen; Eriksen Laimer, Seiwald; Schmid (Stoger 82), Sabitzer,
Czech Republic: Kovar – Coufal, Vitik, Krejci,
France 2 (Kolo Muani 29, Dembele 57) (Damsgaard 62), Gronbaek (Skov Olsen 81); Wimmer (Baumgartner 46); Arnautovic (Adamu 82).
Zeleny; Sulc (Kusej 81), Soucek, Cerv (Kral 89);
Belgium 0 Dolberg (Wind 62).
Cerny (Hlozek 66), Chory (Schick 81), Provod Sep 9 – Oslo
France: Maignan – Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Switzerland: Kobel – Elvedi, Akanji,
(Lingr 65). Norway 2 (Myhre 9, Haaland 80)
Digne; Kante (Fofana 90+4), Kone, Guendouzi Rodriguez; Widmer, Freuler, Xhaka, Aebischer
Ukraine: Trubin – Tymchyk, Zabarnyi, Austria 1 (Sabitzer 37)
(Griezmann 79); Dembele (Olise 80), Kolo (Amdouni 90+1); Rieder (Zakaria 65), Vargas
Matviyenko, Mykolenko; Stepanenko (Malinovskyi Norway: Nyland – Ryerson, Hanche-Olsen
Muani (Mbappe 67), Thuram (Barcola 67). (Wuthrich 53); Embolo (Duah 90+1).
79); Yarmolenko (Tsyhankov 69), Shaparenko (Gundersen 28), Ostigard, Moller Wolfe; Odegaard
Belgium: Casteels – Castagne (Meunier 83), Sent off: Elvedi 52, Xhaka 87.
(Sudakov 69), Zinchenko (Pikhalyonok 85), (Thorsvedt 67), Berge, Berg (Thorsby 46), Mhyre
Faes, Debast, Theate; Tielemans (Mangala 60), Sep 5 – Belgrade Mudryk; Vanat (Yaremchuk 79). (Nusa 46); Haaland, Sorloth (Langas 90+7).
Onana; Lukebakio (Bakayoko 60), De Bruyne, Serbia 0
Current Standings
Austria: Pentz – Mwene (Querfeld 57), Posch,
Doku (Duranville 83); Openda (De Ketelaere 69). Spain 0
P W D L F A Pts
Lienhart, Prass; Sabitzer, Seiwald; Schmid
Sep 9 – Budapest Serbia: Rajkovic – Erakovic (Simic 46), (Arnautovic 78), Wimmer (Stoger 78);
Georgia 2 2 0 0 5 1 6
Israel 1 (Abu Fani 90) Milenkovic, Pavolvic; Nedeljkovic, I. Ilic Laimer, Baumgartner (Seidl 68).
Albania 2 1 0 1 2 2 3
Italy 2 (Frattesi 38, Kean 62) (S. Mitrovic 85), Lukic, Birmancevic; Samardzic
Czech Republic 2 1 0 1 4 6 3 Sep 9 – Maribor
Israel: Gerafi – Jehezkel, Nachmias, Shlomo, (Ratkov 74), Zivkovic (Belic 62); Jovic (Grujic 74).
Ukraine 2 0 0 2 3 5 0 Slovenia 3 (Sesko 23, 28, 63)
Revivo; Lavi (Jaber 46), Kanichowsky (Abu Fani Spain: Raya – Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte,
Cucurella (Grimaldo 56); Zubimendi, Fabian Group B2 Kazakhstan 0
67); Abada (David), Peretz (Safuri 67), Solomon;
(Pedri 76); Yamal, Olmo (Joselu 82), Williams Slovenia: Oblak – Brekalo (Kurtic 87), Drkusic,
Khalaili (Gloukh 46).
(F. Torres 82); Ayoze (Oyarzabal 57). Sep 7 – Dublin Bijol, Janza; Stojanovic (Ilicic 78), Cerin, Elsnik,
Italy: Donnarumma – Gatti, Buongiorno,
Republic of Ireland 0 Mlakar (Stankovic 65); Sesko (Balkovec 87),
Bastoni; Bellanova (Cambiaso 63), Frattesi, Ricci Sep 8 – Copenhagen England 2 (Rice 11, Grealish 26) Celar (Vipotnik 65).
(Zaccagni 86), Tonali, Dimarco (Udogie 71); Denmark 2 (Gronbaek 36, Poulsen 61) Republic of Ireland: Kelleher – Kazakhstan: Shatskiy – Bystrov (Skvortsov 76),
Raspadori (Brescianini 63); Kean (Retegui 86). Serbia 0 Coleman (O’Brien 57), Collins, O’Shea; Maliy (Kasym 46), Marochkin, Alip, Vorogovskiy;
Current Standings Denmark: Schmeichel – Kristensen Doherty (Knight 58), Molumby, Smallbone Orazov (Astanov 57), Tagybergen, Zaynutdinov,
P W D L F A Pts (Frendrup 82), Vestergaard, Andersen; (Browne 75), Brady (Ferguson 82); Ogbene, Samorodov (Chesnokov 46); Aymbetov
Italy 2 2 0 0 5 2 6 Bah, Hojbjerg, Norgaard (Hjulmand 60), Szmodics; Idah (McAteer 75). (Zhaksylykov 76).
France 2 1 0 1 3 3 3 Kristiansen; Gronbaek (Isaksen 60), England: Pickford – Alexander-Arnold,
Eriksen (Dorgu 68); Poulsen (Wind 69). Current Standings
Belgium 2 1 0 1 3 3 3 Guehi, Maguire (Stones 85), Colwill; Mainoo
Serbia: Rajkovic – Erakovic, Milenkovic, P W D L F A Pts
Israel 2 0 0 2 2 5 0 (Gomes 77), Rice, Grealish (Gibbs-White 77);
Pavlovic; Nedeljkovic (S. Mitrovic 64), Slovenia 2 1 1 0 4 1 4
Saka, Kane (Bowen 84), Gordon (Eze 77).
Group A3 I. Ilic, Grujic (Zivkovic 46), Lukic (Belic 72), Norway 2 1 1 0 2 1 4
Birmancevic (D. Jovanovic 80); Samardzic Sep 7 – Piraeus Austria 2 0 1 1 2 3 1
Sep 7 – Dusseldorf (Ratkov 64); Jovic. Greece 3 (Ionnidis 23 76, Kallman 37 og) Kazakhstan 2 0 1 1 0 3 1
Germany 5 (Fullkrug 27, Musiala 58, Finland 0
Sep 8 – Geneva Group B4
Wirtz 66, Pavlovic 77, Havertz 81 pen) Greece: Vlachodimos – Rota, Mavropanos,
Hungary 0 Switzerland 1 (Amdouni 41) Koulierakis, Tsimikas; Mantalos (Siopis 65), Sep 6 – Reykjavik
Germany: Ter Stegen – Kimmich, Tah, Spain 4 (Joselu 4, Fabian 13,77, F. Torres 80) Bouchalakis (Zafeiris 65); Chatzigiouvanis Iceland 2 (Oskarsson 39, Thorsteinsson 58)
Schlotterbeck (Koch 70), Raum (Henrichs 69); Switzerland: Kobel – Wuthrich, Akanji, (Konstantelias 46), Bakasetas (Pavlidis 77), Montenegro 0
Andrich (Stiller 82), Gross (Pavlovic 60); Rodriguez (Rieder 62); Omeragic, Freuler, Pelkas; Ioannidis (Vagiannidis 77). Iceland: Valdirmarsson – Sampsted, Hermansson,
Wirtz, Havertz, Musiala; Fulkrug (Beier 60). Zakaria (Sierro 62), Aebischer (Monteiro 76); Finland: Hradecky – Stahl, Hoskonen, Ivanov, Gretarsson, Tomasson; Gudmundsson, Thordharson;
Hungary: Gulasci – Balogh, Orban, Dardai; Amdouni, Embolo (Duah 76), Vargas (Steffen 85). Galvez; Peltola, Schuller (Nissila 45); Lod Anderson (Willumsson 77), G. Sigurdsson
Nego (Bolla 46), Schafer, A. Nagy (Nikitscher Spain: Raya – Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, (Jensen 62), Kamara (Walta 82), Antman (Gudjohnsen 65), Thorsteinsson (A. Sigurdsson
82), Kerkez (Z. Nagy 67); Szoboszlai, Sallai Grimaldo; Pedri (Vivian 28), Rodri (Zubimendi (Keskinen 62); Kallman (Pohjanpalo 62). 65); Oskarsson (Johannesson 88).
(Csoboth 75); Varga (Adam 67). 59), Fabian (Garcia 81); Yamal (F. Torres 46), Montenegro: Mijatovic – M. Vukcevic (Camaj
Joselu, Williams (Yeremy 59). Sep 10 – Wembley 60), Tuci, Rubezic, Radunovic; Brnovic;
Sep 7 – Eindhoven Sent off: Le Normand 20. England 2 (Kane 57, 76) Marusic, Erakovic, Jovovic, Osmajic
Netherlands 5 (Zirkzee 13, Reijnders 45+2, Finland 0 (Jovetic 60); Krstovic (Mugosa 78).
Gakpo 56, Weghorst 88, Simons 90+2) Current Standings England: Pickford – Alexander-Arnold, Konsa
Bosnia & Herz 2 (Demirovic 27, Dzeko 73) P W D L F A Pts (Colwill 61), Stones (Guehi 80), Lewis; Rice, Sep 6 – Cardiff
Netherlands: Verbruggen – Dumfries Denmark 2 2 0 0 4 0 6 Gomes; Saka (Madueke 66), Grealish, Gordon Wales 0
(Geertruida 67), De Ligt, Van Dijk, Ake Spain 2 1 1 0 4 1 4 (Eze 66); Kane (Bowen 80). Turkey 0
(J. Timber 66); Schouten (Q. Timber 83), Serbia 2 0 1 1 0 2 1 Finland: Hradecky – Stahl, Hoskonen, Wales: Ward – Roberts, Rodon, B. Davies,
Reijnders, Gravenberch; Simons, Zirkzee Switzerland 2 0 0 2 1 6 0 Ivanov, Uronen (Niskanen 46); Peltola, Williams; Wilson, Ampadu, J. James

WORLD SOCCER 91
RESULTS, TABLES, FIXTURES

(Cooper 88); Johnson, Ramsey (Moore 72), Group C2 (Yablonskiy 46), Ebong, Pechenin; Bakhar Liechtenstein: Buchel – N. Beck (Martin
Thomas (Koumas 72). (Kireev 42), Shikavka (Barkovskiy 85), Marxer 62), Wieser, Goppel (Oberwaditzer 62);
Turkey: Gunok – Celik, Ayhan, Soyuncu, Sep 6 – Pristhtina Antilevskiy (Gromyko 67). S. Wolfinger, Hasler, Sele (Luchinger 63), Buchel,
Bardakci, Muldur; Guler (Kahveci 90), Kokcu Kosovo 0 Zund (Meier 63); Notaro (J.Beck 81), Saglam.
(Calhanoglu 64), Yuksek (Yokuslu 77), Yildiz Romania 3 (Man 40, R. Marin 51 pen, Dragus 82) Sep 8 – Plovdiv
(Akturkoglu 77); Yilmaz. Kosovo: Muric – Vojvoda, A. Rrahmani, Aliti, Bulgaria 1 (Despodov 40) Sep 8 – Europa Point
Sent off: Yimaz 62. Paqarada (Rrudhani 81); Zhegrova (Sahiti 81), Northern Ireland 0 Gibraltar 2 (Walker 8, Scanlon 90+7)
Rexhbecaj, Berisha (Muslija 67), Rashica; Muriqi Bulgaria: Mitov – Popov, Atanasov, Petkov, Liechtenstein 2 (Saglam 53, Hasler 90+14 pen)
Sep 9 – Niksic (R. Rrahmani 66), Asllani (Krasniqi 66). Gibraltar: Banda – Jolley (Valarino 73), Lopes,
Nurnberger; Kostadinov (Petrov 78), Gruev;
Montenegro 1 (Camaj 73) Sent off: Vojvoda 85. Annesley, Olivero; Scanlon, Torrilla, Bent, Britto;
Despodov (Ivanov 78), M. Minchev (Panayotov
Wales 2 (Moore 1, Wilson 3) Romania: Nita – Ratiu, Dragusin, Burca, Bancu; Walker (Casciaro 90+10); De Barr (Bartolo 57).
72), Kirilov (Dimitrov 72); Kolev (Ahmedov 63).
Montenegro: Mijatovic – Marusic (M. Vukcevic R. Marin, M. Marin, Stanciu (Mitrita 86); Man Liechtenstein: Buchel – N. Beck, Wieser, Goppel
Northern Ireland: Peacock-Farrell – Ballard,
74), Rubezic, Sipcic, A. Vukcevic (Radunovic 77); (Coman 78), Dragus (Puscas 83), Mihaila (Hagi 83). (Martin Marxer 87); Meier (Luchinger 90+1),
McNair (Marshall 73), Brown; Hume (McCausland
Brnovic (Osmajic 69), Jovovic; Camaj, Jovetic Hasler, Buchel (Wolfinger 87), Sele, Kindle
Sep 6 – Marijampole 83), S. Charles, Saville (Smyth 73), Lewis; Bradley,
(Erakovic 74), Krstovic; Mugosa (Bakic 70). (Marco Marxer 75); Notaro (Netzer 75), Saglam.
Lithuania 0 D. Charles (Lavery 59), Price (McCann 82).
Wales: Darlow – Roberts (Johnson 43),
Mepham, Rodon, B. Davies; Williams, Ampadu, Cyprus 1 (Pittas 34) Current Standings
Lithuania: Gertmonas – Sirvys (G. Paulauskas Current Standings
Cooper (James 61), Koumas (Thomas 46); P W D L F A Pts
70), Kazukolovas, Girdvainis, Tutyskinas, Lasickas; P W D L F A Pts
Wilson (Ramsey 80); Moore (Harris 80). San Marino 1 1 0 0 1 0 3
Slivka, Vorobjovas (Verbickas 86), Matulevicius Belarus 2 1 1 0 1 0 4
Bulgaria 2 1 1 0 1 0 4 Gibraltar 1 0 1 0 2 2 1
Sep 9 – Izmir (Kalinauskas 61); Kucys, Dolznikov (V. Paulauskas).
N. Ireland Liechtenstein 2 0 1 1 2 3 1
Turkey 3 (Akturoglu 2, 52, 88) Cyprus: Mall – Karo, Gogic, Kyprianou 2 1 0 1 2 1 3
Iceland 1 (Palsson 37) (Malekkides 46); Panagioutou (Andreou 46), Luxembourg 2 0 0 2 0 3 0
Group D2
Turkey: Gunok – Muldur (Celik 74), Demiral, Splojaric (Chrysostomou 65), Artymatas,
Bardakci, Elmali; Calhanoglu (Kokcu 46), Ioannou; Kastanos, Tzionis (Correria 89); Group C4 Sep 7 – Chisinau
Yuksek (Ayhan 87); Guler, Kahveci (Yildiz Pittas (Laifis 90+3) Moldova 2 (Caimacov 32, Nicolaescu 45+4 pen)
74), Akturkoglu; Nayir (Yokuslu 81). Sep 7 – Torshavn Malta 0
Iceland: Valdimarsson – Palsson Sep 9 – Larnaca Faroe Islands 1 (Davidsen 9 pen) Moldova: Celeadnic – Platica, Craciun, Mudrac,
(Lunddal Fridriksson 59), Hermannsson, Cyprus 0 North Macedonia 1 (Bardhi 49 pen) Marandici, Reabciuk; Caimacov (Cojocaru 85),
Gretarsson, Finnsson; Anderson (Willumsson Kosovo 4 (Muqiri 9 pen, 21, A. Rrahmani 48, Faroe Islands: a Reynatrodh – Danielsen, Motpan (Bogaciuc 70), Rata, Ionita (Stina 75);
46), Gudmundsson, Thordharson, Thorsteinsson Dellova 55) Chukwudi (Askham 46), Edmundsson, Davidsen; Nicolaescu (Damascan 70).
(Traustason 59); G. Sigurdsson (Oskarsson 59); Cyprus: Mall – Karo, Gogic, Kyprianou (Laifis 46); G. Vatnhamar; Joensen (Mikkelsen 66), Malta: Bonello – Z. Muscat, Shaw, Borg;
Gudjohnsen. Panagioutou (Andreou 46), Artymatas, Kastanos, S. Vatnhamar (Knudsen 84), Sorensen, M. Olsen J. Mbong, Yankam (Lonardelli 46), Guillaumier
Ioannou (Splojaric 71); Tzionis (Loizou 65), (Johannesen 84); Edmundsson (Justinussen 66). (N. Muscat 85), Camenzuli; Pisani (Teuma 71);
Current Standings
Pittas, Malekkides (Correirra 58). North Macedonia: Dimitrievski – Iljazovski Reid (Montebello 46), P. Mbong (Nwoko 70).
P W D L F A Pts
Kosovo: Bekaj – Hadergjonaj, A. Rrahmani, (Alioski 46), Serafimov, Musliu; Mitrovski
Turkey 2 1 1 0 3 1 4
Aliti (Dellova 46), Rrudhani; Rexhbecaj, (Qamili 46), Bardhi, Alimi, Dimoski; Sep 10 – Andorra la Vella
Wales 2 1 1 0 2 1 4
Emerllahu (Bujupi 87), Berisha; Krasniqi, Miovski, Elmas, Churlinov (Ilievski 77). Andorra 0
Iceland 2 1 0 1 3 3 3
Muriqi (Al.Rrahmani 46), Rashica (Sahiti 70). Malta 1 (Camenzuli 45)
Montenegro 2 0 0 2 1 4 0
Sep 7 – Yerevan Andorra: Alvarez – Borra (Cucu 64), Llovera,
Sep 9 – Bucharest Armenia 4 (Bichakhchyan 6, Dubra 35 og,
Group C1 M. Vales, Olivera, San Nicolas (Izquierdo 81);
Romania 3 (Mihaila 4, R. Marin 87 pen, Zelarayan 48, Spertsyan 86) Rubio (Alaez 64), Guillen (Teixeira 35),
Sep 5 – Baku Mitrita 90+2) Latvia 1 (Harutyunyan 9 og) E. Vales (C. Garcia 81), Cervos; Rosas.
Azerbaijan 1 (Dadashov 82) Lithuania 1 (Kucys 34) Armenia: Cancarevic – Calisir (Muradyan 76), Malta: Bonello – Z. Muscat, Shaw, Borg;
Sweden 3 (Isak 65, 71, Gyokeres 80 pen) Romania: Tarnovanu – Ratiu, Dragusin, Haroyan, G. Harutyunyan; Hovhannisyan, Spertsyan, Lonardelli, J. Mbong, Guillaumier, Camenzuli;
Azerbaijan: Dzhenetov – A. Huseynov Burca, Bancu; Stanciu, M. Marin (Olaru 56), Iwu, Tiknizyan; Bichakhchyan (Sevikyan 66), Nwoko (P. Mbong 78), Teuma (Yankam 90+4),
(Seydiyev 84), Mustafazda, B. Huseynov, Mihaila (Mitrita 70); Man (Hagi 70), Dragus Zelarayan (Ranos 84), Serobyan (Shaghoyan 66). Montebello (Reid 60).
Cafarguliyev; Diniyev (Kokcu 75), Isayev (Alibec 88), R. Marin. Latvia: Matrevics – Jurkovskis, Dubra
(Camalov 83); Sheydayev (Akhundzade 83), Lithuania: Gertmonas – Sirvys Lekiatas, (Balodis 63), Tobers; Jaunzems (Savalnieks 64), Current Standings
Mahmudov (Nuriyev 69), Bayramov; Dadashov. Girdvainis, Tutyskinas, Lasickas (Kazukolovas Saveljevs, Vapne (Zelenkovs 63), Ciganiks; P W D L F A Pts
Sweden: Johansson – Wahlqvist (Cajuste 72), 90+1); Dolznikov (Kalinauskas 76), Vorobjovas Uldrikis, Ikaunieks (Varslavans 82), Daskevics Moldova 1 1 0 0 2 0 3
Douglas (Bergvall 72), Hien, Augustinsson; (Antanavicius 75), Matulevicius (Verbickas 66), (Gutkovskis 63). Malta 2 1 0 1 1 2 3
Kulusevski, Ayari (Starfelt 72), Svanberg Slivka; Kucys (G. Paulauskas 65). Andorra 1 0 0 1 0 1 0
(Saletros 64), Elanga (Sema 46); Gyokeres, Isak. Sep 10 – Riga
Current Standings
Sep 5 – Tallinn P W D L F A Pts Latvia 1 (Varslavans 64) Fixtures
Estonia 0 Romania 2 2 0 0 6 1 6 Faroe Islands 0
Group A1
Slovakia 1 (Suslov 70) Kosovo 2 1 0 1 4 3 3 Latvia: Matrevics – Jurkovskis, Tobers, Balodis;
Oct 12: Croatia v Scotland; Poland v Portugal
Estonia: Hein – Lilander, J. Tamm, Mets, Cyprus 2 1 0 1 1 4 3 Savalnieks, Zelenkovs (Vapne 80), Saveljevs,
Oct 15: Poland v Croatia; Scotland v Portugal
Schjonning-Larsen; Miller (Yakovlev 78); Lithuania 2 0 0 2 1 4 0 Ciganiks; Gutkovskis (Uldrikis 72), Varslavans
Ainsalu (Palumets 69), Shein, Sinyavskiy (Melniks 80), Ikaunieks (Jaunzems 90+2). Group A2
(Saarma 84); Sappinen, A. Tamm (Vetkal 69). Group C3 Faroe Islands: a Reynatrodh – Danielsen Oct 10: Israel v France; Italy v Belgium
Slovakia: Dubravka – Pekarik (Gyomber 90+2), (Knudsen 83), Chukwudi, Edmundsson, Oct 14: Belgium v France; Italy v Israel
Sep 5 – Zalaegerszeg Davidsen; Joensen (K.Olsen 83), S.Vatnhamar
Skriniar, Obert (Vavro 65), Hancko; Duda (Rigo
Belarus 0 (Justinussen 46), G. Vatnhamar, Sorensen, M. Group A3
83), Lobotka, Benes (Bero 83); Suslov, Bozenik
Bulgaria 0 Olsen (Petersen 83); Edmundsson (Mikkelsen 46).
(Strelec 65), Haraslin. Oct 11: Bosnia & Herzegovina v
Belarus: Lapoukhov – Volkov, Kovalev Germany; Hungary v Netherlands
Sep 8 – Kosice (Karpovich 64), Martynovich, Zabelin; Pechenin; Sep 10 – Skopje Oct 14: Bosnia & Herzegovina v
Slovakia 2 (Duda 22 pen, Strelec 26) Yablonskiy (Selyava 77), Kaplenko, Ebong, North Macedonia 2 (Bardhi 70, Miovski 78) Hungary; Germany v Netherlands
Azerbaijan 0 (Klimovich 83); Shikavka (Melnichenko 83), Armenia 0
Slovakia: Dubravka – Gyomber, Skriniar, Obert, Antilevskiy (Kireev 64). North Macedonia: Dimitrievski – Ashkovski Group A4
Hancko (Kozlovsky 90+3); Kucka, Lobotka, Bulgaria: Mitov – Popov, Atanasov, Petkov, (Manev 83), Zajkov, Musliu, Dimoski; Babunski Oct 12: Serbia v Switzerland; Spain v Denmark
Duda (Benes 71); Suslov (Duris 71), Strelec Nurnberger; Antov (M. Minchev 77), Gruev; (Serafimov 46), Alimi (Atanasov 59); Churlinov Oct 15: Spain v Serbia; Switzerland v Denmark
(Bozenik 84), Haraslin (Tupta 84). Despodov (Ivanov 83), Krastev, Kirilov (Qamili 4, Kostadinov 59), Bardhi, Elmas; Miovski.
Azerbaijan: Dzhenetov – Seydiyev (A. (I. Minchev 77); Kolev (Ahmedov 83). Sent off: Zajkov 45+4. Group B1
Huseynov 37), Mammadov B. Huseynov (Aliyev Sent off: Krastev 73. Armenia: Cancarevic – Calisir (Manvelyan 86), Oct 11:
70), Cafarguliyev; Camalov, Isayev; Camalov Haroyan, G. Harutyunyan; Hovhannisyan, Iwu, Czech Republic v Albania; Ukraine v Georgia
(Diniyev 78), Isaev; Kokcu (Nuriyev 46), Sep 5 – Belfast
Spertsyan, Tiknizyan (Grigoryan 66); Sevikyan Oct 14:
Mustafaev (Sheydayev 46), Bayramov; Dadashov. Northern Ireland 2 (McNair 11, Ballard 16)
(Bichakhchyan 66), Zelarayan (H. Harutyunyan Georgia v Albania; Ukraine v Czech Republic
Luxembourg 0
Sep 8 – Stockholm Northern Ireland: Peacock-Farrell – Ballard 74), Ranos (Serobyan 46).
Group B2
Sweden 3 (Gyokeres 30, 44, Isak 40) (Smyth 83), McNair, Brown; Bradley, S. Charles Oct 10: England v Greece; Finland v Rep of Ireland
Estonia 0 (McCann 83), Saville, Hume; Price (McCausland Current Standings
P W D L F A Pts Oct 13: Finland v England; Greece v Rep of Ireland
Sweden: Johansson – Douglas, Hien, 74), D. Charles (Magennis 46), Marshall (Lewis 57).
Gudmundsson; Eliasson, Ayari (Nanasi 63), Luxembourg: Moris – Jans (Dzogovic 74), N. Macedonia 2 1 1 0 3 1 4
Group B3
Saletros (Bergvall 84), Sema (Cajuste 63); Mahmutovic (Pinto 46), Gerson, Carlson; Armenia 2 1 0 1 4 3 3
Oct 10: Austria v Kazakhstan; Norway v Slovenia
Kulusevski; Gyokeres (Elanga 79), Isak (Nilsson 79). Bohnert, Martins, Barrerio, Veiga (Andrade Latvia 2 1 0 1 2 4 3
Oct 13: Kazakhstan v Slovenia; Austria v Norway
Estonia: Hein – Paskotsi, J. Tamm, Mets, Brites 74); Olesen (S. Thill 85), Rodrigues Faroe Islands 2 0 1 1 1 2 1
Schjonning-Larsen (Pikk 59); Miller (Lilander (Muratovic 85). Group B4
83); Palumets, Shein (Poom 59), Sinyavskiy Group D1 Oct 11: Iceland v Wales; Turkey v Montenegro
(Kristal 72); Vetkal; Sappinen (A. Tamm 60). Sep 8 – Luxembourg Oct 14: Iceland v Turkey; Wales v Montenegro
Sent off: Palumets 62. Luxembourg 0 Sep 5 – Serravalle
Belarus 1 (Gromyko 76) San Marino 1 (Sensoli 53) Group C1
Current Standings Luxembourg: Moris – Dzogovic (Rupil 84), Liechtenstein 0 Oct 11: Estonia v Azerbaijan; Slovakia v Sweden
P W D L F A Pts Chanot, Carlson, Jans (Pinto 46); Sinani, San Marino: Colombo – G. Benvenuti, Cevoli, Oct 14: Azerbaijan v Slovakia; Estonia v Sweden
Sweden 2 2 0 0 6 1 6 Olesen (S. Thill 46), Martins, Barreiro, Rossi, Tosi (T. Benvenuti 71); A. Golinucci
Slovakia 2 2 0 0 3 0 6 Bohnert (Mahmutovic 65); Muratovic. (Battistini 62), Capicchioni (Mularoni 81), Group C2
Azerbaijan 2 0 0 2 1 5 0 Belarus: Lapoukhov – Volkov, Martynovich, Casadei; Contadini, Nanni (Giacopetti 71), Oct 12: Lithuania v Kosovo; Cyprus v Romania
Estonia 2 0 0 2 0 4 0 Zabelin; Karpovich (Kovalev 67), Selyava Sensoli (Zannoni 62). Oct 15: Kosovo v Cyprus; Lithuania v Romania

92 WORLD SOCCER
 RESULTS, TABLES, FIXTURES

Group C3 Group B1 Current Standings Group B3

Oct 12: Bulgaria v Luxembourg; P W D L F A Pts Oct 11: Aruba v Haiti;
Belarus v Northern Ireland Sep 5 – Bonaire Dominican Rep 2 2 0 0 5 2 6 Sint Maarten v Puerto Rico
Oct 15: Belarus v Luxembourg; Montserrat 1 (Barzey 28) Bermuda 2 1 0 1 3 3 3 Oct 14: Haiti v Aruba;
Northern Ireland v Bulgaria El Salvador 4 (Landaverde 9, Mauricio 63, Dominica 2 1 0 1 2 3 3 Puerto Rico v Sint Maarten
Benitez 68, Santamaria 84 pen) Antigua & B. 2 0 0 2 1 3 0
Group C4 Group B4
Oct 10: Faroe Islands v Armenia; Sep 5 – Bonaire Group C1 Oct 12: Antigua & Barbuda v Dominican
Latvia v North Macedonia Bonaire 1 (Hoeve 36)
Republic; Dominica v Bermuda
Oct 13: Armenia v North Macedonia; St Vincent & Grenadines 1 (Pierre 39) Sep 4 – Upper Bethlehem Oct 15: Dominican Republic v Antigua
Faroe Islands v Latvia US Virgin Islands 3 (Henry 27, Joseph 77, & Barbuda; Bermuda v Dominica
Sep 8 – Bonaire Catone-Highfield 86)
El Salvador 2 (Hoeve 45+3 og, Mauricio 60) Bahamas 3 (St Fleur 2 pen, Julmis 37,
Group D1 Group C1
Bonaire 1 (Van der Sande 90+1) Adderley 58)
Oct 10: Gibraltar v San Marino Oct 9: Bahamas v US Virgin Islands
Oct 13: Liechtenstein v Gibraltar Sep 8 – Bonaire Oct 12: US Virgin Islands v Barbados
Sep 7 – Upper Bethlehem
St Vincent & Grenadines 2 (Stewart 15, Bahamas 2 (Adderley 42, 66) Oct 15: Barbados v Bahamas
Group D2 Spring 88)
Oct 10: Moldova v Andorra Barbados 3 (Applewhite 10, Taylor 80,
Montserrat 0 An. Applewhaite 82) Group C2
Oct 13: Malta v Moldova
Oct 9: Turks & Caicos v Anguilla
Current Standings Sep 10 – Upper Bethlehem Oct 12: Anguilla v Belize
P W D L F A Pts Barbados 3 (Hinkson 15, Oct 15: Belize v Turks & Caicos
2024-25 CONCACAF NATIONS LEAGUE El Salvador 2 2 0 0 6 2 6 Reid-Stephen 86, 90+3)
St Vincent & Gren 2 1 1 1 3 1 4 US Virgin Islands 0
Group A1 Group C3
Bonaire 2 0 1 1 2 3 1
Oct 9: Cayman Islands v British Virgin Islands
Montserrat 2 0 0 2 1 6 0 Current Standings
Sep 5 –SanJose Oct 12: British Virgin Islands v St Kitts & Nevis
P W D L F A Pts Oct 15: St Kitts & Nevis v Cayman Islands
Costa Rica 3 (Calvo 50, Lassiter 77, Group B2 Barbados 2 2 0 0 6 2 6
Madrigal 80)
Bahamas 2 0 1 1 5 6 1
Guadeloupe 0 Sep 6 – St George’s
St Lucia 2 (Jude-Boyd 24, Elva 55)
US Virgin Is. 2 0 1 1 3 6 1 ASIAN CUP 2027 QUALIFYING
Sep 5 – Leonora Curacao 1 (Brenet 63) Group C2
Guyana 1 (Glasgow 43 pen) Play-Off Round – 1st Leg
Suriname 3 (Van der Kust 18, Montnor 66, Sep 6 – St George’s Sep 4 – Providenciales
Misidjan 83) Saint Martin 0 Anguilla 2 (Hughes 57, Carpenter 74) Sep 5 – Colombo
Grenada 2 (Akins 5, Charles-Cook 38) Turks & Caicos 0 Sri Lanka 0
Sep 5 – Guatemala City Cambodia 0
Guatemala 3 (Rubin 3, Pinto 61 pen, Sep 9 – St George’s Sep 7 – Providenciales
Martinez 90+5) Curacao 4 (J. Bacuna 10, Kastaneer 13, Turks & Caicos 0 Sep 5 – Gianyar
Martinique 1 (Appin 51) L. Bacuna 48, Zimmerman 65) Belize 4 (Velasquez 12, Polanco 43, 73, Timor-Leste 4 (Joao Pedro 3, 27, 52, Zenivio 58)
Saint Martin 0 Palacio 66) Mongolia 1 (Oyunbaataryn 34)
Sep 9 – Guatemala City
Sep 9 – St George’s Sep 10 – Providenciales Sep 5 – Bandar Seri Begawan
Guatemala 0
Grenada 1 (Akins 51) Belize 1 (Polanco 27) Brunei 3 (Hakeme 32, Nazry 56, Hariz 61)
Costa Rica 0
St Lucia 2 (Forino-Joseph 13, Baptiste 21) Anguilla 0 Macau 0
Sep 9 – Le Gosier Current Standings
Guadeloupe 1 (Leborgne 67) Current Standings Play-Off Round – 2nd Leg
P W D L F A Pts
Suriname 0 P W D L F A Pts
St Lucia 2 2 0 0 4 2 6
Belize 2 2 0 0 5 0 6 Sep 10 – Phnom Penh
Curacao 2 1 0 1 5 2 3
Sep 9 – Fort-de-France Anguilla 2 1 0 1 2 1 3 Cambodia 2 (Nhean 58, Sos 98)
Grenada 2 1 0 1 3 2 3
Martinique 2 (Labeau 45+2, Varane 86) Turks & Caicos 2 0 0 2 0 6 0 Sri Lanka 2 (Kelaart 37, Kammerknecht 120+2)
Saint Martin 2 0 0 2 0 6 0
Guyana 2 (Jones 14, 24) After Extra-time. 2-2 on aggregate
Group C3 Sri Lanka win 4-2 on pens
Group B3
Current Standings
Sep 4 – George Town Sep 10 – Ulaanbaatar
P W D L F A Pts Sep 6 – Puerto Rico British Virgin Islands 0 Mongolia 2 (Torbat 8, Dolgoon 54)
Costa Rica 2 1 1 0 3 0 4 Puerto Rico 1 (Diaz 29) Cayman Islands 1 (Seymour 84) Timor-Leste 0
Guatemala 2 1 1 0 3 1 4 Haiti 4 (Jean Jacques 51, Pierrot 60,
Suriname 2 1 0 1 3 2 3 Louicius 76, Nazon 83) Timor-Leste win 4-3 on aggregate
Sep 7 – George Town
Guadeloupe 2 1 0 1 1 3 3
Cayman Islands 1 (Duval 51)
Guayana 2 0 1 1 3 5 1 Sep 6 – Puerto Rico Sep 10 – Taipa
St Kitts & Nevis 4 (Rogers 10, Williams 19, 37,
Martinique 2 0 1 1 3 5 1 Sint Maarten 2 (Lake 81, Olivacce 90+3) Macau 0
Stephen 72)
Aruba 0 Brunei 1 (Azwan 10)
Group A2 Sep 10 – George Town Brunei win 4-0 on aggregate
Sep 9 – Puerto Rico St Kitts & Nevis 2 (Williams 11, 64)
Sep 6 – Kingston Haiti 6 (Christopher 40, Nazon 59, 75, 82, British Virgin Islands 0 ● Play-off winners Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste and
Jamaica 0 Cantave 77, 85) Brunei advance to the third round group stage,
Cuba 0 Sint Maarten 0 Current Standings with the draw to be held on December 19, 2024.
P W D L F A Pts The 21 others teams in the pot for the third
Sep 6 – Remire-Montjoly Sep 9 – Puerto Rico St Kitts & Nevis 2 2 0 0 6 1 6 round are: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan,
French Guiana 0 Aruba 0 Cayman Islands 2 1 0 1 2 4 3 Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Laos, Lebanon,
Nicaragua 1 (Talavera 90+5) Puerto Rico 1 (Antonetti 73) British Virgin Is. 2 0 0 2 0 3 0 Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan,
Philippines, Singapore, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand,
Sep 6 – Tegucigalpa Current Standings Fixtures Turkmenistan, Vietnam, Yemen
Honduras 4 (A. Lopez 39, Arriaga 45+2, P W D L F A Pts
Rodriguez 54, Ruiz 86) Group A1 ● The teams already qualified for the 2027
Haiti 2 2 0 0 10 1 6
Trinidad & Tobago 0 Oct 11: Asian Cup are: Saudi Arabia (hosts), Australia,
Puerto Rico 2 1 0 1 2 4 3
Suriname v Costa Rica; Guadeloupe Bahrain, China, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan,
Sint Maarten 2 1 0 1 2 6 3
Sep 10 – Tegucigalpa v Martinique; Guyana v Guatemala Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, North Korea,
Aruba 2 0 0 2 0 3 0
Honduras 1 (Ruiz 50) Oct 15: Costa Rica v Guatemala; Martinique Oman, Palestine, Qatar, South Korea,
Jamaica 2 (Maldonado 49 og, Antonio 76 pen) v Guadeloupe; Suriname v Guyana United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan
Group B4
Group A2
Sep 10 – Santiago de Cuba Sep 7 – Piggotts Oct 10: Nicaragua v Jamaica; Cuba v
Cuba 1 (Espino 42 pen) Bermuda 2 (Crichlow 17, Lambe 51) AFCON 2025 QUALIFYING
Trinidad & Tobago; French Guiana v Honduras
Nicaragua 1 (Medina 90+7) Dominican Republic 3 (Romero 35, Oct 14: Jamaica v Honduras; Trinidad &
Morschel 62, Vasquez 84) Tobago v Cuba; Nicaragua v French Guiana Group A
Sep 10 – Bacolet
Trinidad & Tobago 0 Sep 7 – Piggotts Group B1 Sep 4 – El Jadida
French Guiana 0 Dominica 2 (Bertrand 46, Joseph 57) Oct 10: St Vincent & Grenadines Comoros 1 (M’Changama 37)
Antigua & Barbuda 1 (Stevens 53) v El Salvador; Bonaire v Montserrat Gambia 1 (Barrow 45+1)
Current Standings Oct 13: El Salvador v St Vincent
P W D L F A Pts Sep 10 – Piggotts & Grenadines; Montserrat v Bonaire Sep 5 – Tunis
Jamaica 2 1 1 0 2 1 4 Dominican Republic 2 (Vasquez 11, Romero 25) Tunisia 1 (Sassi 90+8)
Nicaragua 2 1 1 0 2 1 4 Dominica 0 Group B2 Madagascar 0
Honduras 2 1 0 1 5 2 3 Oct 11:
Cuba 2 0 2 0 1 1 2 Sep 10 – Piggotts Grenada v Curacao; Saint Martin v St Lucia Sep 8 – El Jadida
French Guiana 2 0 1 1 0 1 1 Antigua & Barbuda 0 Oct 14: Gambia 1 (Sowe 14)
Trinidad & Tob 2 0 1 1 0 4 1 Bermuda 1 (Crichlow 56) Curacao v Grenada; St Lucia v Saint Martin Tunisia 2 (Abdi 11, Ben Romdhane 75)

WORLD SOCCER 93
RESULTS, TABLES, FIXTURES

Sep 9 – Tunis Sep 6 – Lome Group I Current Standings

Madagascar 1 (Andriamatsinoro 9) Togo 1 (Denkey 78) P W D L F A Pts
Comoros 1 (M’Changama 41) Liberia 1 (Gibson 90+2) Sep 5 – Bissau Burkina Faso 2 1 1 0 4 2 4
Guinea-Bissau 1 (Bura 14) Senegal 2 1 1 0 2 1 4
Current Standings Sep 9 – Malabo Eswatini 0 Burundi 2 1 0 1 3 3 3
P W D L F A Pts Equatorial Guinea 2 (Nlavo 17, Buyla 75) Malawi 2 0 0 2 3 6 0
Tunisia 2 2 0 0 3 1 6 Togo 2 (Aholou 45, Laba 90) Sep 6 – Bamako
Comoros 2 0 2 0 2 2 2 Mali 1 (Bissouma 52) Fixtures
Gambia 2 0 1 1 2 3 1 Sep 10 – Monrovia Mozambique 1 (Catamo 37)
Madagascar 2 0 1 1 1 2 1 Group A
Liberia 0
Oct 6:
Algeria 3 (Gouiri 17, Zorgane 25, Bounedjah 80) Sep 10 – Mbombela
Group B Madagascar v Gambia;
Eswatini 0
Tunisia v Comoros
Current Standings Mali 1 (Bissouma 7)
Sep 5 – El Jadida Oct 14:
P W D L F A Pts
Central African Republic 3 (Mafouta 1, 24, Gambia v Madagascar;
Algeria 2 2 0 0 5 0 6 Sep 10 – Maputo
Koyalipou 62) Comoros v Tunisia
Togo 2 0 2 0 3 3 2 Mozambique 2 (Guima 5, Elias 73)
Lesotho 1 (Sera 56) Eq. Guinea 2 0 1 1 2 4 1 Guinea-Bissau 1 (Balde 24) Group B
Liberia 2 0 1 1 1 4 1
Oct 6:
Sep 6 – Agadir Current Standings Gabon v Lesotho;
Morocco 4 (Ziyech 10 pen, 26 pen, Brahim 59, Group F P W D L F A Pts Morocco v Central African Republic
El Kaabi 82) Mozambique 2 1 1 0 3 2 4 Oct 14:
Gabon 1 (Aubameyang 40 pen) Sep 4 – Juba Mali 2 1 1 0 2 1 4 Lesotho v Gabon;
Sudan 1 (Eisa 51) Guinea-Bissau 2 1 0 1 2 2 3 Central African Republic v Morocco
Sep 9 – Agadir Niger 0 Eswatini 2 0 0 2 0 2 0
Lesotho 0 Group C
Morocco 1 (Brahim 90+3) Sep 5 – Kumasi Group J Oct 6:
Ghana 0 Cape Verde v Botswana;
Sep 10 – Franceville Angola 1 (Felicio Milson 90+3) Sep 6 – Kampala Egypt v Mauritania
Gabon 2 (Aubameyang 11 pen, Babicka 40) Kenya 0 Oct 14:
Central African Republic 0 Sep 9 – Talatona Zimbabwe 0 Botswana v Cape Verde;
Angola 2 (Mabululu 51 pen, Nteka 81) Mauritania v Egypt
Current Standings Sudan 1 (Karshoum 55) Sep 7 – Douala
P W D L F A Pts Cameroon 1 (Aboubakar 65) Group D
Morocco 2 2 0 0 5 1 6 Sep 9 – Berkane Namibia 0 Oct 6:
C. African Rep 2 1 0 1 3 3 3 Niger 1 (Sako 81) Benin v Rwanda;
Gabon 2 1 0 1 3 4 3 Ghana 1 (Seidu 44) Sep 10 – Kampala Nigeria v Libya
Lesotho 2 0 0 2 1 4 0 Zimbabwe 0 Oct 14:
Current Standings Cameroon 0 Rwanda v Benin;
Group C P W D L F A Pts Libya v Nigeria
Angola 2 2 0 0 3 1 6 Sep 10 –Johannesburg
Sep 6 – Cairo Sudan 2 1 0 1 2 2 3 Namibia 1 (Hotto 90) Group E
Egypt 3 (Rabia 23, Marmoush 45+1, Adel 70) Ghana 2 0 1 1 1 2 1 Kenya 2 (Avire 58, Abuya 76) Oct 6:
Cape Verde 0 Niger 2 0 1 1 1 2 1 Equatorial Guinea v Liberia;
Current Standings Algeria v Togo
Sep 7 – Nouakchott Group G P W D L F A Pts Oct 14:
Mauritania 1 (Amar 84) Kenya 2 1 1 0 2 1 4 Liberia v Equatorial Guinea;
Botswana 0 Sep 6 – Bouake Cameroon 2 1 1 0 1 0 4 Togo v Algeria
Ivory Coast 2 (Krasso 73, 84) Zimbabwe 2 0 2 0 0 0 2
Sep 10 – Francistown Zambia 0 Namibia 2 0 0 2 1 3 0 Group F
Botswana 0 Oct 6:
Egypt 4 (Trezeguet 5, 29, Salah 56, Sep 6 – Monrovia Group K Angola v Niger;
M. Fathi 90+4) Sierra Leone 0 Ghana v Sudan
Chad 0 Sep 5 – Brazzaville Oct 14:
Sep 10 – Praia Congo 1 (Massanga 12) Niger v Angola;
Cape Verde 2 (Mendes 28 pen, 75) Sep 9 – Yaounde South Sudan 0 Sudan v Ghana
Mauritania 0 Chad 0
Ivory Coast 2 (Krasso 45+3, Diakite 55) Sep 6 – Pretoria Group G
Current Standings South Africa 2 (Foster 14, Mbatha 90+5) Oct 6:
P W D L F A Pts Sep 10 – Ndola Uganda 2 (Omedi 51, Mato 53) Zambia v Chad;
Egypt 2 2 0 0 7 0 6 Zambia 3 (Musonda 28, Kampamba 70, Ivory Coast v Sierra Leone
Cape Verde 2 1 0 1 2 3 3 Kangwa 85) Sep 8 – Kampala Oct 14:
Mauritania 2 1 0 1 1 2 3 Sierra Leone 2 (Kargbo 33, Mustapha 73) Uganda 2 (Kayondo 21, Ssemugabi 85) Chad v Zambia;
Botswana 2 0 0 2 0 5 0 Congo 0 Sierra Leone v Ivory Coast
Current Standings
Group D P W D L F A Pts Group H
Sep 10 –Juba
Ivory Coast 2 2 0 0 4 0 6 Oct 6:
South Sudan 2 (Okello 15 pen, Yuel 57)
Zambia 2 1 0 1 3 4 3 Guinea v Ethiopia;
Sep 4 – Tripoli South Africa 3 (Appollis 17, 45+2,
Sierra Leone 2 0 1 1 2 3 1 DR Congo v Tanzania
Libya 1 (Al Dawi 16) Mbatha 90+5)
Chad 2 0 1 1 0 2 1 Oct 14:
Rwanda 1 (Nshuti 47)
Ethiopia v Guinea;
Current Standings
Group H Tanzania v DR Congo
Sep 7 – Uyo P W D L F A Pts
Nigeria 3 (Lookman 45+2, 83, Osimhen 78) Uganda 2 1 1 0 4 2 4
Sep 4 – Dar es Salaam Group I
Benin 0 South Africa 2 1 1 0 5 4 4
Tanzania 0 Oct 6:
Congo 2 1 0 1 1 2 3
Ethiopia 0 Mozambique v Eswatini;
Sep 10 – Kigali South Sudan 2 0 0 2 2 4 0
Mali v Guinea-Bissau
Rwanda 0 Oct 14:
Nigeria 0 Sep 6 – Kinshasa Group L
Eswatini v Mozambique;
DR Congo 1 (Kayembe 27)
Guinea-Bissau v Mali
Sep 10 – Abidjan Guinea 0 Sep 5 – Lilongwe
Benin 2 (Mounie 50, Olaitan 62) Malawi 2 (Kawonga 31, L. Nkhoma 75)
Group J
Libya 1 (Al Badri 9 pen) Sep 9 – Dar es Salaam Burundi 3 (Idana 22 og, Girumugisha 33,
Oct 6:
Ethiopia 0 Eldhino 87)
Namibia v Zimbabwe;
Current Standings DR Congo 2 (Bongonda 62, Mayele 76) Cameroon v Kenya
P W D L F A Pts Sep 6 – Dakar Oct 14:
Nigeria 2 1 1 0 3 0 4 Sep 10 – Yamoussoukro Senegal 1 (Mane 16) Zimbabwe v Namibia;
Benin 2 1 0 1 2 4 3 Guinea 1 (Bayo 57) Burkina Faso 1 (Bouda 90+5) Kenya v Cameroon
Rwanda 2 0 2 0 1 1 2 Tanzania 2 (Salum 61, Yahya 88)
Libya 2 0 1 1 2 3 1 Sep 9 – Lilongwe Group K
Current Standings Burundi 0 Oct 6:
Group E P W D L F A Pts Senegal 1 (Sarr 71 pen) Uganda v South Sudan;
DR Congo 2 2 0 0 3 0 6 South Africa v Congo
Sep 5 – Oran Tanzania 2 1 1 0 2 1 4 Sep 10 – Bamako Oct 14:
Algeria 2 (Aouar 69, Gouiri 90+5) Ethiopia 2 0 1 1 0 2 1 Burkina Faso 3 (Traore 35, 38, Bande 60 pen) South Sudan v Uganda;
Equatorial Guinea 0 Guinea 2 0 0 2 1 3 0 Malawi 1 (Z. Nkhoma 80) Congo v South Africa

94 WORLD SOCCER
 RESULTS, TABLES, FIXTURES

Group L
Oct 6:
Burkina Faso v Burundi;
Senegal v Malawi
Oct 14:
Burundi v Burkina Faso;
Club Football Play-Off Round
(agg 2-3); Pyunik (Arm) 1-0 Ordabasy (Kaz) (agg
2-0); Larne (Nir) 0-1 Ballkani (Kos) (agg 1-1, AET,
Larne win 4-1 on pens); FK Decic (Mne) 2-1 HJK
(Fin) (agg 2-2, AET, HJK win 4-3 on pens)

Play-Off Round – Main Path

Malawi v Senegal
EUROPE Aug 22: Dinamo Minsk (Blr) 0-1 Anderlecht Aug 22: Omonia (Cyp) 6-0 Zira (Aze);
(Bel); Jagiellonia Bialystok (Pol) 1-4 Ajax (Ned); St Gallen (Sui) 0-0 Trabzonspor (Tur); Lens
2024 MERDEKA TOURNAMENT 2024-25 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Ludogorets (Bul) 4-0 Petrocub Hincesti (Mda); (Fra) 2-1 Panathinaikos (Gre); BK Hacken
Lugano (Sui) 3-3 Besiktas (Tur); LASK (Aut) 1-1 (Swe) 1-2 Heidenheim (Ger); Copenhagen
Semi-Finals Third Qualifying Round – Champions Path (Den) 2-0 Kilmarnock (Sco); Vitoria Guimaraes
FCSB (Rou); RFS (Lva) 2-1 APOEL (Cyp); Maccabi
Tel Aviv (Isr) 3-0 TSC (Srb); PAOK (Gre) 4-0 (Por) 3-0 Zrinjski Mostar (Bih); Brann (Nor) 2-0
Sep 4 – Kuala Lumpur Aug 6-7: Qarabag (Aze) 1-2 Ludogorets Astana (Kaz); Legia Warsaw (Pol) 2-0 Drita
(Bul); Sparta Prague (Cze) 1-1 FCSB (Rou); Shamrock Rovers (Irl); Ferencvaros (Hun) 0-0
Lebanon 1 (Ayoub 13) Borac Banja Luka (Bih); Molde (Nor) 0-1 Elfsborg (Kos); Rijeka (Cro) 1-1 Olimpija Ljubljana (Svn);
Tajikistan 0 Malmo (Swe) 2-2 PAOK (Gre); Midtjylland Fiorentina (Ita) 3-3 Puskas Akademia (Hun);
(Den) 2-0 Ferencvaros (Hun); Slovan Bratislava (Swe); Braga (Por) 2-1 Rapid Vienna (Aut);
Viktoria Plzen (Cze) 1-0 Hearts (Sco) Djurgarden (Swe) 1-0 Maribor (Svn); Wisla
(Svk) 2-0 APOEL (Cyp); Jagiellonia Bialystok Krakow (Pol) 1-6 Cercle Brugge (Bel); Mlada
Sep 4 – Kuala Lumpur Aug 29: Anderlecht (Bel) 1-0 Dinamo Minsk (Blr)
(Pol) 0-1 Bodo/Glimt (Nor) Boleslav (Cze) 2-2 Paks (Hun); St Patrick’s
Malaysia 2 (Syamer 43, Safawi 73 pen) (agg 2-0); Ajax (Ned) 3-0 Jagiellonia Bialystok
Aug 13: Ludogorets (Bul) 2-7 Qarabag (Aze) Athletic (Irl) 0-0 Istanbul Basaksehir (Tur);
Philippines 1 (J. Tabinas 27) (Pol) (agg 7-1); Petrocub Hincesti (Mda) 1-2
(agg 4-8, AET); FCSB (Rou) 2-3 Sparta Prague Chelsea (Eng) 2-0 Servette (Sui); CFR Cluj (Rou)
Ludogorets (Bul) (agg 1-6); Besiktas (Tur) 5-1
(Cze) (agg 3-4); PAOK (Gre) 3-4 Malmo (Swe) 1-0 Pafos (Cyp); Partizan Belgrade (Srb) 0-1
Third Place Play-Off Lugano (Sui) (agg 8-4); FCSB (Rou) 1-0 LASK (Aut)
(agg 5-6, AET); Ferencvaros (Hun) 1-1 Midtjylland Gent (Bel); Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih (Ukr) 0-2 Real
(agg 2-1); APOEL (Cyp) 2-1 RFS (Lva) (agg 3-3,
(Den) (agg 1-3); APOEL (Cyp) 0-0 Slovan Betis (Spa); Noah (Arm) 3-0 Ruzomberok (Svk)
Sep 8 – Kuala Lumpur AET, RFS win 4-2 on pens); TSC (Srb) 1-5 Maccabi
Bratislava (Svk) (agg 0-2); Bodo/Glimt (Nor) Aug 29: Zira (Aze) 1-0 Omonia (Cyp) (agg 1-6);
Tajikistan 0 Tel Aviv (Isr) (agg 1-8); Shamrock Rovers (Irl) 0-2
4-1 Jagiellonia Bialystok (Pol) (agg 5-1) Trabzonspor (Tur) 1-1 St Gallen (Sui) (agg 1-1, AET,
Philippines 0 PAOK (Gre) (agg 0-6); Borac Banja Luka (Bih) 1-1
Tajikistan win 4-3 on pens Ferencvaros (Hun) (agg 1-1, AET, Ferencvaros win St Gallen win 5-4 on pens); Panathinaikos (Gre)
Third Qualifying Round – League Path 2-0 Lens (Fra) (agg 3-2); Heidenheim (Ger) 3-2
3-2 on pens); Elfsborg (Swe) 0-1 Molde (Nor)
Final (agg 1-1, AET, Elfsborg win 4-2 on pens); Rapid BK Hacken (Swe) (agg 5-3); Kilmarnock (Sco) 1-1
Aug 6-7: Lille (Fra) 2-1 Fenerbahce (Tur); Copenhagen (Den) (agg 1-3); Zrinjski Mostar (Bih)
Vienna (Aut) 2-2 Braga (Por) (agg 3-4); Hearts
Dynamo Kyiv (Ukr) 1-1 Rangers (Sco); Red Bull 0-4 Vitoria Guimaraes (Por) (agg 0-7); Astana
Sep 8 – Kuala Lumpur (Sco) 0-1 Viktoria Plzen (Cze) (agg 0-2)
Salzburg (Aut) 2-1 Twente (Ned); Slavia Prague (Kaz) 3-0 Brann (Nor) (agg 3-2); Drita (Kos) 0-1
Malaysia 1 (Morales 33)
(Cze) 3-1 Union Saint-Gilloise (Bel) Legia Warsaw (Pol) (agg 0-3); Olimpija Ljubljana
Lebanon 0
Aug 13: Union Saint-Gilloise (Bel) 0-1 Slavia 2024-25 CONFERENCE LEAGUE (Svn) 5-0 Rijeka (Cro) (agg 6-1); Puskas Akademia
Prague (Cze) (agg 1-4); Fenerbahce (Tur) 1-1 (Hun) 1-1 Fiorentina (Ita) (agg 4-4, AET, Fiorentina
FRIENDLIES Lille (Fra) (agg 2-3, AET); Rangers (Sco) 0-2 win 5-4 on pens); Maribor (Svn) 0-1 Djurgarden
Third Qualifying Round – Main Path
Dynamo Kyiv (Ukr) (agg 1-3); Twente (Ned) (Swe) (agg 0-2); Cercle Brugge (Bel) 1-4 Wisla
3-3 Red Bull Salzburg (Aut) (agg 4-5) Krakow (Pol) (agg 7-5); Paks (Hun) 0-3 Mlada
Sep 1 – Fort Lauderdale Aug 8: Mlada Boleslav (Cze) 1-1 Hapoel Be’er
Uruguay 1 (Pino 21) Sheva (Isr); Kilmarnock (Sco) 2-2 Tromso (Nor); Boleslav (Cze) (agg 2-5); Istanbul Basaksehir (Tur)
Guatemala 1 (Altan 67) Play-Off Round – Champions Path 2-0 St Patrick’s Athletic (Irl) (agg 2-0); Servette
Ararat-Armenia (Arm) 0-1 Puskas Akademia
(Hun); Zurich (Sui) 0-3 Vitoria Guimaraes (Por); (Sui) 2-1 Chelsea (Eng) (agg 2-3); Pafos (Cyp) 3-0
Aug 20-21: Dinamo Zagreb (Cro) 3-0 Qarabag Paks (Hun) 3-0 Mornar Bar (Mne); BK Hacken CFR Cluj (Rou) (agg 3-1); Gent (Bel) 1-0 Partizan
Sep 2 – Suva
(Aze); Bodo/Glimt (Nor) 2-1 Red Star Belgrade (Swe) 6-1 Paide Linnameeskond (Est); Maribor Belgrade (Srb) (agg 2-0); Real Betis (Spa) 3-0
Fiji 1 (Waranaivalu 81 pen)
(Srb); Young Boys (Sui) 3-2 Galatasaray (Tur); (Svn) 2-1 Vojvodina (Srb); Spartak Trnava (Svk) Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih (Ukr) (agg 5-0); Ruzomberok
Solomon Islands 0
Midtjylland (Den) 1-1 Slovan Bratislava (Svk); 3-1 Wisla Krakow (Pol); St Patrick’s Athletic (Irl) (Svk) 3-1 Noah (Arm) (agg 3-4)
Malmo (Swe) 0-2 Sparta Prague (Cze) 1-0 Sabah (Aze); St Mirren (Sco) 1-1 Brann (Nor);
Sep 4 – Europa Point Aug 27-28: Galatasaray (Tur) 0-1 Young
Gibraltar 1 (Bent 18) CSKA 1948 (Bul) 2-1 Pafos (Cyp); Ilves (Fin) 1-1 Play-Off Round – Champions Path
Boys (Sui) (agg 2-4); Sparta Prague (Cze) 2-0 Djurgarden (Swe); Corvinul Hunedoara (Rou) 1-2
Andorra 0 Malmo (Swe) (agg 4-0); Qarabag (Aze) 0-2 Astana (Kaz); Ruzomberok (Svk) 0-0 Hajduk Split Aug 22: Lincoln Red Imps (Gib) 2-1 Larne (Nir);
Dinamo Zagreb (Cro) (agg 0-5); Slovan Bratislava (Cro); Noah (Arm) 3-1 AEK Athens (Gre); Auda Pyunik (Arm) 1-0 Celje (Svn); Vikingur Reykjavik
Sep 5 – Hanoi (Svk) 3-2 Midtjylland (Den) (agg 4-3); Red Star (Lva) 1-0 Drita (Kos); Iberia 1999 (Geo) 0-1 (Isl) 5-0 UE Santa Colomba (And); Panevezys (Ltu)
Vietnam 0 Belgrade (Srb) 2-0 Bodo/Glimt (Nor) (agg 3-2) Istanbul Basaksehir (Tur); Brondby (Den) 2-3 0-3 The New Saints (Wal); KI (Fro) 2-2 HJK (Fin)
Russia 3 (Kuzyaev 24, Vu Van Thanh 61 og,
Legia Warsaw (Pol); Maccabi Petah Tikva (Isr) 0-1 Aug 29: Larne (Nir) 3-1 Lincoln Red Imps (Gib)
Musaev 77) Play-Off Round – League Path CFR Cluj (Rou); Silkeborg (Den) 2-2 Gent (Bel); (agg 4-3); Celje (Svn) 4-1 Pyunik (Arm) (agg 4-2);
Osijek (Cro) 1-1 Zira (Aze); St Gallen (Sui) 2-0 UE Santa Colomba (And) 0-0 Vikingur Reykjavik (Isl)
Sep 5 – Suva Aug 20-21: Lille (Fra) 2-0 Slavia Prague (Cze); Slask Wroclaw (Pol); Botev Plovdiv (Bul) 2-1 (agg 0-5); The New Saints (Wal) 0-0 Panevezys
Solomon Islands 0 Dynamo Kyiv (Ukr) 0-2 Red Bull Salzburg (Aut) Zrinjski Mostar (Bih); Omonia (Cyp) 1-0 Fehervar (Ltu) (agg 3-0); HJK (Fin) 2-1 KI (Fro) (agg 4-3)
Hong Kong 3 (Juninho 22, Orr 45+1 pen, Aug 27-28: Red Bull Salzburg (Aut) 1-1 (Hun); Copenhagen (Den) 1-0 Banik Ostrava (Cze);
Wai 47 pen) Dynamo Kyiv (Ukr) (agg 3-1); Slavia Olimpija Ljubljana (Svn) 3-0 Sheriff Tiraspol (Mda)
Prague (Cze) 2-1 Lille (Fra) (agg 2-3) Aug 15: Hapoel Be’er Sheva (Isr) 2-4 Mlada 2024 UEFA SUPER CUP
Sep 5 – Thimpu Boleslav (Cze) (agg 3-5); Tromso (Nor) 0-1
Bhutan 0 Kilmarnock (Sco) (agg 2-3); Puskas Akademia Aug 14 – Warsaw
Bangladesh 1 (Morsalin 5) 2024-25 EUROPA LEAGUE (Hun) 3-3 Ararat-Armenia (Arm) (agg 4-3); Vitoria Real Madrid (Spa) 2 (Valverde 59, Mbappe 68)
Guimaraes (Por) 2-0 Zurich (Sui) (agg 5-0); Mornar Atalanta (Ita) 0
Sep 7 – Kansas City Third Qualifying Round – Main Path Bar (Mne) 2-2 Paks (Hun) (agg 2-5); Paide
United States 1 (De la Torre 66) Linnameeskond (Est) 1-1 BK Hacken (Swe) (agg
Canada 2 (Shaffelburg 17, David 58) Aug 8: Partizan Belgrade (Srb) 0-1 Lugano (Sui); 2-7); Vojvodina (Srb) 1-0 Maribor (Svn) (agg 2-2, 2024 FA COMMUNITY SHIELD
Molde (Nor) 3-0 Cercle Brugge (Bel); Trabzonspor AET, Maribor win 4-2 on pens); Wisla Krakow (Pol)
Sep 7 – Pasadena (Tur) 0-1 Rapid Vienna (Aut); Panathinaikos (Gre) 3-1 Spartak Trnava (Svk) (agg 4-4, AET, Wisla Aug 10 – Wembley
Mexico 3 (Pineda 5, Huerta 53, Romo 57) 0-1 Ajax (Ned); Braga (Por) 0-0 Servette (Sui); Krakow win 12-11 on pens); Sabah (Aze) 0-1 St Manchester United 1 (B. Silva 89)
New Zealand 0 Rijeka (Cro) 1-1 Elfsborg (Swe); Kryvbas Kryvyi Patrick’s Athletic (Irl) (agg 0-2); Brann (Nor) 3-1 St Manchester City 1 (Garnacho 82)
Rih (Ukr) 1-2 Viktoria Plzen (Cze) Mirren (Sco) (agg 4-2); Pafos (Cyp) 4-0 CSKA 1948 Manchester City win 7-6 on pens
Sep 8 – Thimpu Aug 15: Lugano (Sui) 2-2 Partizan Belgrade (Srb) (Bul) (agg 5-2, AET); Djurgarden (Swe) 3-1 Ilves
(agg 3-2, AET); Cercle Brugge (Bel) 1-0 Molde (Fin) (agg 4-2); Astana (Kaz) 6-1 Corvinul
Bhutan 1 (Wangchuk 90+1) 2024 GERMAN SUPER CUP
Bangladesh 0 (Nor) (agg 1-3); Ajax (Ned) 0-1 Panathinaikos Hunedoara (Rou) (agg 8-2); Hajduk Split (Cro) 0-1
(Gre) (agg 1-1, AET, Ajax win 13-12 on pens); Rapid Ruzomberok (Svk) (agg 0-1); AEK Athens (Gre) 1-0
Vienna (Aut) 2-0 Trabzonspor (Tur) (agg 3-0); Aug 17 – Leverkusen
Sep 8 – Lautoka Noah (Arm) (agg 2-3); Drita (Kos) 3-1 Auda (Lva)
Servette (Sui) 1-2 Braga (Por) (agg 1-2); Elfsborg Bayer Leverkusen 2 (Boniface 11, Schick 88)
Fiji 1 (Radrigai 18) (agg 3-2, AET); Istanbul Basaksehir (Tur) 2-0 Iberia
(Swe) 2-0 Rijeka (Cro) (agg 3-1); Viktoria Plzen Stuttgart 2 (Millot 15, Undav 63)
Hong Kong 1 (Orr 77) 1999 (Geo) (agg 3-0); Legia Warsaw (Pol) 1-1
(Cze) 1-0 Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih (Ukr) (agg 3-1) Bayer Leverkusen win 4-3 on pens
Brondby (Den) (agg 4-3); CFR Cluj (Rou) 1-0
Maccabi Petah Tikva (Isr) (agg 2-0); Gent (Bel)
Sep 10 – Chisinau Third Qualifying Round – Champions Path
Moldova 1 (Rata 10)
3-2 Silkeborg (Den) (agg 5-4, AET); Zira (Aze) 2-2 2024 PORTUGUESE SUPER CUP
Osijek (Cro) (agg 3-3, AET, Zira win 2-1 on pens);
San Marino 0 Aug 6-8: Panevezys (Ltu) 1-2 Maccabi Tel Aviv Slask Wroclaw (Pol) 3-2 St Gallen (Sui) (agg 3-4); Aug 3 – Aveiro
(Isr); Petrocub Hincesti (Mda) 1-0 The New Saints Zrinjski Mostar (Bih) 2-0 Botev Plovdiv (Bul) (agg Sporting 3 (Inacio 6, Goncalves 9, Quenda 24)
Sep 10 – Hanoi (Wal); Dinamo Minsk (Blr) 2-0 Lincoln Red Imps 3-2); Fehervar (Hun) 0-2 Omonia (Cyp) (agg 0-3); Porto 4 (Galeno 28, 66, Gonzalez 64, Jaime 101)
Vietnam 1 (Nguyen Tien Linh 21) (Gib); KI (Fro) 2-1 Borac Banja Luka (Bih); UE Banik Ostrava (Cze) 1-0 Copenhagen (Den) (agg 1-1, After Extra-Time
Thailand 2 (Suphanat 26, Gustavsson 40) Santa Colomba (And) 0-2 RFS (Lva); Celje AET, Copenhagen win 2-1 on pens); Sheriff Tiraspol
(Svn) 1-0 Shamrock Rovers (Irl) (Mda) 0-1 Olimpija Ljubljana (Svn) (agg 0-4)
Sep 10 – Arlington Aug 15: The New Saints (Wal) 0-0 Petrocub 2024 DUTCH SUPER CUP
Mexico 0 Hincesti (Mda) (agg 0-1); RFS (Lva) 7-0 UE Santa Third Qualifying Round – Champions Path
Canada 0 Colomba (And) (agg 9-0); Borac Banja Luka (Bih) Aug 4 – Eindhoven
3-1 KI (Fro) (agg 4-3, AET); Shamrock Rovers (Irl) Aug 8: Vikingur Reykjavik (Isl) 1-1 Flora (Est); PSV 4 (Lang 9, De Jong 48, 80 pen, Til 65)
Sep 11 – Cincinnati 3-1 Celje (Svn) (agg 3-2, AET); Maccabi Tel Aviv Ordabasy (Kaz) 0-1 Pyunik (Arm); Ballkani (Kos) Feyenoord 4 (Gimenez 29 pen, 54 pen,
United States 1 (Pulisic 69) (Isr) 3-0 Panevezys (Ltu) (agg 5-1); Lincoln Red 0-1 Larne (Nir); HJK (Fin) 1-0 FK Decic (Mne) Nieuwkoop 33, Milambo 72)
New Zealand 1 (Waine 89) Imps (Gib) 2-1 Dinamo Minsk (Blr) (agg 2-3) Aug 15: Flora (Est) 1-2 Vikingur Reykjavik (Isl) Feyenoord win 4-2 on pens

WORLD SOCCER 95
RESULTS, TABLES, FIXTURES

SOUTH AMERICA
Aug 14 – Quito Deportivo Mongomo (Eqg) 2-2 ASKO Kara (Tog); Tala’ea El Gaish 34 10 12 12 30 40 42
LDU (Ecu) 1 (Arce 14) Al Ahly Benghazi (Lby) 0-1 Al Hilal (Sud); Remo Al Ittihad 34 9 14 11 30 42 41
Lanus (Arg) 2 (Perez 23, Moreno 45+1) Stars (Nga) 2-1 AS FAR (Mar) El Gouna 34 9 12 13 32 44 39
2024 COPA LIBERTADORES Aug 23-25: Dekedaha (Som) 3-4 Arta Solar (Dji) National Bank of Egypt 34 9 9 16 46 45 36
Aug 14 – Santiago (agg 5-4); Pyramids (Egy) 3-1 JKU (Zan) (agg 9-1); Ismaily 34 7 12 15 33 43 33
Round of 16 – 1st Leg Palestino (Chi) 2 (Roman 48, Linares 50) Orlando Pirates (RSA) 4-0 Disciples (Mad) (agg Pharco 34 6 15 13 32 43 33
Independiente Medellin (Col) 2 (Varela 41, 90+3) 4-0); Enugu Rangers (Nga) 1-1 US Zilimadjou (Com) Baladiyyat Al Mahalla (R) 34 7 7 20 31 65 28
Aug 13 – Buenos Aires (agg 2-1); MC Alger (Alg) 2-0 Watanga (Lbr) (agg Al Mokawloon (R) 34 5 11 18 32 57 26
San Lorenzo (Arg) 1 (Cuello 17) Aug 15 – Asuncion 4-0); CBE (Eth) 1-1 SC Villa (Uga) (agg 3-2); Young El Dakhleya (R) 34 3 11 20 17 43 20
Atletico Mineiro (Bra) 1 (Paulinho 58) Libertad (Par) 1 (Espinoza 58) Africans (Tan) 6-0 Vital’O (Bdi) (agg 10-0); APR *Deducted 3 points
Sportivo Ameliano (Par) 1 (Samudio 23) (Rwa) 2-1 Azam (Tan) (agg 2-1); Red Arrows (Zam)
Aug 13 – Santiago 2-0 Nyasa Big Bullets (Mwi) (agg 3-2); Jwaneng
Colo-Colo (Chi) 1 (Pizarro 76)
Junior (Col) 0
Aug 15 – Curitiba
Athletico Paranaense (Bra) 2 (Erick 41,
Galaxy (Bot) 1-0 African Stars (Nam) (agg 1-1,
Jwaneng Galaxy win 6-5 on pens); Sagrada
CONCACAF
Aug 13 – Curitiba
Christian 62) Esperanca (Ang) 3-0 Saint Louis Suns United (Sey) 2024 LEAGUES CUP
Belgrano (Arg) 1 (Jara 1) (agg 4-0); Belouizdad (Alg) 1-0 Leopards (Cgo)
Gremio (Bra) 2 (Reinaldo 74 pen, 77) Round of 32
(agg 3-0); Raja Casablanca (Mar) 5-0 AS GNN
Fluminense (Bra) 1 (Lima 58)
Aug 15 – Buenos Aires (Nig) (agg 7-1); Teungueth (Sen) 1-1 Stade d’Abidjan
Boca Juniors (Arg) 1 (Cavani 65) (Civ) (agg 2-2, Stade d’Abidjan win 5-4 on pens); Aug 7 – Los Angeles
Aug 14 – Cordoba Los Angeles FC (USA) 2 (Bouanga 11, Olivera 61)
Talleres (Arg) 0 Cruzeiro (Bra) 0 Al Merrikh (Sud) 2-0 Al Nasr (Lby) (agg 2-0); Gor
Mahia (Ken) 5-1 Al Merreikh Bentiu (Ssd) (agg 5-2); Austin FC (USA) 0
River Plate (Arg) 1 (Diaz 86)
Round of 16 – 2nd Leg Ferroviario da Beira (Moz) 0-0 Mbabane Swallows
(Esw) (agg 0-1); Maniema Union (Cod) 0-0 Ngezi Aug 7 – Vancouver
Aug 14 – Montevideo Vancouver Whitecaps (Can) 0
Penarol (Uru) 4 (Fernandez 9, Silvera 16, Aug 20 – Avellaneda Platinum (Zim) (agg 0-0, Maniema Union win 4-3
Racing (Arg) 6 (B. Rodriguez 10, A. Martinez 26, on pens); Coton (Ben) 1-1 Douanes (Bfa) (agg 1-1, UNAM Pumas (Mex) 2 (Huerta 36, Ruvalcaba 57)
Baez 36, Batista 72)
The Strongest (Bol) 0 Carbonero 31, 45+3, Di Cesare 51, Almendra 55) Douanes win on away goals); Samartex (Gha) 1-0
Aug 8 – Fort Lauderdale
Huachipato (Chi) 1 (Palmezano 48 pen) Victoria United (Cmr) (agg 2-0); US Monastir (Tun)
Inter Miami (USA) 4 (Rojas 3, 59, Gomez 11,
Aug 14 – Rio de Janeiro Racing win 8-2 on aggregate 2-0 AS PSI (Cha) (agg 3-0); Djoliba (Mal) p-p Red
Suarez 20)
Botafogo (Bra) 2 (Luiz Henrique 22, Star de Bangui (Cta) (Djoliba win by walkover);
Toronto FC (Can) 3 (Insigne 15 pen, 41 pen,
Igor Jesus 39) Aug 20 – Sao Paulo ASKO Kara (Tog) 1-0 Deportivo Mongomo (Eqg)
Allen 79 og)
Palmeiras (Bra) 1 (Mauricio 33) Corinthians (Bra) 1 (Garro 24) (agg 3-2); FC Nouadhibou (Mta) 1-1 Milo (Gui)
Red Bull Bragantino (Bra) 2 (Eduardo Sasha 72, (agg 1-1, Milo win on away goals); San Pedro (Civ) Aug 8 – Austin
Aug 15 – Montevideo Luan Candido 76) 1-0 Bo Rangers (Sle) (agg 2-1); Al Hilal (Sud) 1-1 Tigres UANL (Mex) 1 (Flores 65)
Nacional (Uru) 0 3-3 on aggregate. Corinthians win 5-4 on pens Al Ahly Benghazi (Lby) (agg 2-1); AS FAR (Mar) Pachuca (Mex) 0
Sao Paulo (Bra) 0 2-0 Remo Stars (Nga) (agg 3-2)
Aug 21 – Fortaleza Aug 8 – Seattle
Aug 15 – Rio de Janeiro Fortaleza (Bra) 3 (Lucero 53, Yago Pikachu 78, Seattle Sounders (USA) 3 (Yeimar 4, Ragen 7,
Flamengo (Bra) 2 (Luiz Araujo 29, Leo Pereira 89) Lucas Sasha 90+2) 2024-25 CAF CONFEDERATION CUP A. Roldan 45+4)
Bolivar (Bol) 0 Rosario Central (Arg) 1 (Mallo 48) LA Galaxy (USA) 1 (Pec 83)
Fortaleza win 4-2 on aggregate First Qualifying Round
Round of 16 – 2nd Leg Aug 8 – SanJose
Aug 21 – Lanus Aug 16-18: Jamus (Ssd) 0-1 Stade Tunisien (Tun); San Jose Earthquakes (USA) 5 (Yueill 5,
Aug 20 – Belo Horizonte
Lanus (Arg) 3 (Bou 9, Izquierdoz 78, Acosta 89) Kitara (Uga) 2-3 Al Hilal Benghazi (Lby); Horseed Lopez 17, Ebobisse 29, 35, Marie 88)
Atletico Mineiro (Bra) 1 (Battaglia 65)
LDU (Ecu) 1 (Arce 37) (Som) 0-0 Rukinzo (Bdi); El Kanemi Warriors Necaxa (Mex) 0
San Lorenzo (Arg) 0
Lanus win 5-2 on aggregate (Nga) 1-1 Dadje (Ben); Union de Touarga (Mar)
Atletico Mineiro win 2-1 on aggregate Aug 9 – Cincinnati
0-0 RC Abidjan (Civ); Nsingizini Hotspurs (Esw)
Aug 21 – Pereira 0-3 Stellenbosch (RSA); Bravos do Maquis (Ang) FC Cincinnati (USA) 1 (Orellano 11)
Aug 20 – Barranquilla
Independiente Medellin (Col) 4 (Roman 29 og, 3-0 Coastal Union (Tan); Alize Fort (Com) 0-7 Santos Laguna (Mex) 1 (Lozano 5)
Junior (Col) 1 (Bacca 45+1)
Alvarado 42, L. Chaverra 66 pen, Perlaza 67) Black Bulls (Moz); Foresters (Sey) 1-1 Orapa FC Cincinnati win 6-5 on pens
Colo-Colo (Chi) 2 (Cepeda 43, Falcon 74)
Colo-Colo win 3-1 on aggregate Palestino (Chi) 0 United (Bot); CS Constantine (Alg) 2-0 Police
Independiente Medellin win 6-2 on aggregate FC (Rwa); ASC Kara (Tog) 2-2 AS FAN (Nig); Aug 9 – Columbus
Paynesville (Lbr) 4-0 Fovu Club (Cmr); Hafia (Gui) Columbus Crew (USA) 4 (Rossi 44, 57,
Aug 20 – Rio de Janeiro
Aug 22 – Asuncion 1-1 Etoile Filante (Bfa); East End Lions (Sle) 0-1 Jones 77, Chambost 79)
Fluminense (Bra) 2 (Thiago Silva 14, Arias 28 pen)
Sportivo Ameliano (Par) 0 ASC Jaraaf (Sen); Administration Police (Ken) 0-0 Sporting Kansas City (USA) 0
Gremio (Bra) 1 (Gustavo Nunes 76)
3-3 on aggregate. Fluminense win 4-2 on pens Libertad (Par) 0 Ethiopian Coffee (Eth); Uhamiaji (Zan) 0-2 Al Ahli
1-1 on aggregate. Libertad win 4-3 on pens Aug 9 – Washington D.C.
Tripoli (Lby); Dynamos (Zim) 1-0 ZESCO United
D.C. United (USA) 1 (Klich 74)
Aug 21 – Buenos Aires (Zam); Nsoatreman (Gha) 3-0 Elect Sport (Cha)
Aug 22 – Cordoba Mazatlan (Mex) 2 (Barcenas 34, Rubio 43)
River Plate (Arg) 2 (Borja 34, Simon 50) Aug 21-25: Elgeco Plus (Mad) 1-1 Lunda Sul
Talleres (Arg) 1 (Girotti 69) Belgrano (Arg) 0 (Ang); 15 de Agosto (Eqg) 0-2 AS Otoho (Cod) Aug 9 – Foxborough
River Plate win 3-1 on aggregate Athletico Paranaense (Bra) 2 (Mastriani 54, Aug 23-28: Etoile Filante (Bfa) 0-0 Hafia New England Revolution (USA) 1 (Wood 40)
Di Yorio 89) (Gui) (agg 1-1, Etoile Filante win on away goals); New York City FC (USA) 1 (Rodriguez 35 pen)
Aug 21 – La Paz Athletico Paranaense win 4-1 on aggregate Al Hilal Benghazi (Lby) 3-2 Kitara (Uga) (agg 6-4); New York City FC win 7-6 on pens
The Strongest (Bol) 1 (Triverio 44 pen) Rukinzo (Bdi) 2-0 Horseed (Som) (agg 2-0); Dadje
Penarol (Uru) 0 Aug 22 – Belo Horizonte (Ben) 2-1 El Kanemi Warriors (Nga) (agg 3-2); RC Aug 9 – Orlando
Penarol win 4-1 on aggregate Cruzeiro (Bra) 2 (Matheus Henrique 9, Walace 21) Abidjan (Civ) 0-0 Union de Touarga (Mar) (agg Orlando City (USA) 0
Boca Juniors (Arg) 1 (Gimenez 48) 0-0, RC Abidjan win 2-1 on pens); Stade Tunisien Cruz Azul (Mex) 0
Aug 21 – Sao Paulo 2-2 on aggregate. Cruzeiro win 5-4 on pens (Tun) 4-0 Jamus (Ssd) (agg 5-0); Al Ahli Tripoli Cruz Azul win 5-4 on pens
Palmeiras (Bra) 2 (Lopez 86, Rony 90) (Lby) 3-1 Uhamiaji (Zan) (agg 5-1); Stellenbosch
Botafogo (Bra) 2 (Igor Jesus 56, Savarino 64)
AFRICA
(RSA) 5-0 Nsingizini Hotspurs (Esw) (agg 8-0); Aug 9 – Chester
Botafogo win 4-3 on aggregate Black Bulls (Moz) 4-0 Alize Fort (Com) (agg 11-0); Philadelphia Union (USA) 2 (Baribo 45+1, 90+6)
ZESCO United (Zam) 0-0 Dynamos (Zim) (agg CF Montreal (Can) 0
Aug 22 – Sao Paulo
Sao Paulo (Bra) 2 (Bobadilla 31, Calleri 47)
2024-25 CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 0-1); Elect Sport (Cha) 0-2 Nsoatreman (Gha)
(agg 0-5); AS FAN (Nig) 0-2 ASC Kara (Tog) Aug 9 – St Louis
Nacional (Uru) 0 St Louis City (USA) 3 (Teuchert 51, Hartel 83,
First Qualifying Round (agg 2-4); Fovu Club (Cmr) 0-1 Paynesville (Lbr)
Sao Paulo win 2-0 on aggregate Becher 88)
(agg 0-5); ASC Jaraaf (Sen) 3-0 East End Lions
Aug 16-18: Arta Solar (Dji) 0-2 Dekedaha (Som); (Sle) (agg 4-0); Ethiopian Coffee (Eth) 0-1 Portland Timbers (USA) 1 (Bravo 54)
Aug 22 – La Paz
Bolivar (Bol) 1 (Bruno Savio 57) Mbabane Swallows (Esw) 1-0 Ferroviario da Beira Administration Police (Ken) (agg 0-1); Lunda Sul
(Moz); Milo (Gui) 0-0 FC Nouadhibou (Mta); (Ang) 0-1 Elgeco Plus (Mad) (agg 1-1, Lunda Sul Aug 9 – Houston
Flamengo (Bra) 0 Toluca (Mex) 2 (Angulo 39, Lopez 90+6)
Flamengo win 2-1 on aggregate SC Villa (Uga) 1-2 CBE (Eth); Vital’O (Bdi) 0-4 win on away goals); Coastal Union (Tan) 0-0
Young Africans (Tan); Ngezi Platinum (Zim) 0-0 Bravos do Maquis (Ang) (agg 0-3); Orapa United Houston Dynamo (USA) 2 (Ponce 41, Micael 62)
Maniema Union (Cod); African Stars (Nam) 1-0 (Bot) 2-0 Foresters (Sey) (agg 3-1); Police FC Toluca win 5-4 on pens
2024 COPA SUDAMERICANA Jwaneng Galaxy (Bot); Saint Louis Suns United (Rwa) 1-2 CS Constantine (Alg) (agg 1-4); AS
Otoho (Cod) 2-1 15 de Agosto (Eqg) (agg 4-1) Aug 9 – Commerce City
(Sey) 0-1 Sagrada Esperanca (Ang); Douanes
Juarez (Mex) 2 (Zaldivar 18, Hurtado 71 pen)
Round of 16 – 1st Leg (Bfa) 0-0 Coton (Ben); AS GNN (Nig) 1-2 Raja
Colorado Rapids (USA) 3 (Lewis 28,
Casablanca (Mar); Red Star de Bangui (Cta) 0-0
EGYPT Mihailovic 45 pen, Harris 59)
Aug 13 – Vina del Mar Djoliba (Mal); Stade d’Abidjan (Civ) 1-1 Teungueth
Huachipato (Chi) 0 (Sen); Bo Rangers (Sle) 1-1 San Pedro (Civ); Al P W D L F A Pts
Aug 9 – San Diego
Racing (Arg) 2 (A. Martinez 32, Quintero 89 pen) Nasr (Lby) 0-0 Al Merrikh (Sud); Al Merreikh Al Ahly (C) 34 27 4 3 75 28 85
America (Mex) 2 (E. Sanchez 20, Martin 73)
Bentiu (Ssd) 1-0 Gor Mahia (Ken); Azam (Tan) 1-0 Pyramids 34 24 7 3 62 27 79
Atlas (Mex) 1 (R. Lozano 59)
Aug 13 – Ribeirao Preto APR (Rwa); JKU (Zan) 0-6 Pyramids (Egy); Nyasa Zamalek* 34 17 8 9 53 37 56
Red Bull Bragantino (Bra) 1 (Helinho 56) Big Bullets (Mwi) 2-1 Red Arrows (Zam); Disciples Al Masry 34 16 7 11 41 39 55 Round of 16
Corinthians (Bra) 2 (Giovane 6, Talles Magno 14) (Mad) 0-0 Orlando Pirates (RSA); US Zilimadjou Modern Future 34 14 12 8 40 28 54
(Com) 0-1 Enugu Rangers (Nga); Leopards (Cgo) Smouha 34 15 9 10 39 35 54 Aug 12 – Seattle
Aug 14 – Rosario 0-2 Belouizdad (Alg); Victoria United (Cmr) 0-1 ZED 34 13 12 9 48 35 51 Seattle Sounders (USA) 4 (Rothrock 32,
Rosario Central (Arg) 1 (Sandez 6) Samartex (Gha); AS PSI (Cha) 0-1 US Monastir Ceramica Cleopatra 34 12 10 12 51 42 46 Morris 58, 90+5 pen, Rusnak 71 pen)
Fortaleza (Bra) 1 (Marinho 2) (Tun); Watanga (Lbr) 0-2 MC Alger (Alg); ENPPI 34 11 12 11 38 37 45 UNAM Pumas (Mex) 0

96 WORLD SOCCER
 RESULTS, TABLES, FIXTURES

Aug 13 – Columbus Aug 28: Tauro (Pan) 2-1 San Francisco 2024 CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIP
Columbus Crew (USA) 3 (Ramirez 67, (Pan); Herediano (Crc) 1-1 Motagua (Hon)
Rossi 69, 80)
Inter Miami (USA) 2 (Rojas 10, Gomez 62) Final Standings Semi-Finals
P W D L F A Pts
Aug 13 – Cincinnati Herediano (Q) 4 3 1 0 4 1 10 July 10:
FC Cincinnati (USA) 2 (Bucha 66, Yedlin 80) Motagua (Q) 4 2 1 1 9 6 7 Pacific 0-1 Vancouver Whitecaps;
Philadelphia Union (USA) 4 (Uhre 51, Diriangen 4 2 1 1 4 3 7 Forge 2-1 Toronto FC
Aug 27: October 2024 Vol. 65 No.2
Baribo 61, 81, Sullivan 84) Tauro 4 1 0 3 4 8 3
San Francisco 4 0 1 3 3 6 1 Vancouver Whitecaps 1-0 Pacific (agg 2-0); GROUP EDITOR
Toronto FC 1-0 Forge Stephen Fishlock
Aug 13 – Washington D.C.
Group B (agg 2-2, Toronto FC win on away goals)
Cruz Azul (Mex) 2 (Antuna 84, Ditta 90+1) MANAGING EDITOR
Mazatlan (Mex) 2 (Colula 40, Barcenas 45+1) Jamie Evans
Mazatlan win 3-1 on pens Aug 13-14: Alianza (Slv) 5-2 Luis Angel Firpo
(Slv); Comunicaciones (Gua) 2-1 Marathon (Hon) GUYANA DIGITAL MANAGING EDITOR
Jared Tinslay
Aug 20-21: Alianza (Slv) 1-2 Alajuelense (Crc); P W D L F A Pts
Aug 13 – Harrison
Marathon (Hon) 1-0 Luis Angel Firpo (Slv) Guyana Defence Force (C) 18 16 2 0 72 10 50 DESIGN
Tigres UANL (Mex) 1 (Pizarro 18) Sean Phillips, atg-media.com
Aug 27: Marathon (Hon) 1-0 Alianza (Slv); Slingerz 18 14 4 0 76 10 46
New York City FC (USA) 2 (Moralez 20,
Alajuelense (Crc) 2-1 Comunicaciones (Gua) Police 18 13 1 4 51 22 40 PICTURES
Rodriguez 65)
Western Tigers 18 9 1 8 58 36 28 Pictures copyright: Getty Images
Final Standings Santos 18 9 1 8 39 24 28
Aug 13 – Commerce City SPECIAL THANKS THIS ISSUE TO:
P W D L F A Pts Den Amstel 18 5 5 8 20 32 20 Ewan Grady, Keir Radnedge, Mark Gleeson,
Toluca (Mex) 1 (Paulinho 83) Alajuelense (Q) 4 4 0 0 11 6 12 Fruta Conquerors 18 5 1 12 20 43 16 Henry Winter, Danny Lewis, Alec McQuarrie,
Colorado Rapids (USA) 2 (Rafael Navarro 45, Comunicaciones (Q) 4 2 1 1 5 4 7 Monedderlust 18 4 4 10 18 60 16 Nick Bidwell & OFC Media via Phototek
Yapi 90+6) Marathon 4 2 0 2 4 5 6 Ann’s Grove 18 4 2 12 19 59 14 EDITORIAL
Alianza 4 1 0 3 6 6 3 Buxton United (R) 18 0 1 17 9 86 1 Kelsey Media, The Granary, Downs Court,
Aug 13 – Carson Luis Angel Firpo 4 0 1 3 6 11 1 Yalding Hill, Yalding, Maidstone, Kent, ME18 6AL
America (Mex) 4 (B. Rodriguez 18, 86 pen,
Valdes 79, Aguirre 90+8) ADVERTISING AND SPONSORSHIP
Group C
St Louis City (USA) 2 (Vassilev 49, SINT MAARTEN Talk Media Ltd: Russell Bedford
Tel. 01732 445328
Lowen 55 pen) Aug 13-14: Antigua (Gua) 2-1 Independiente P W D L F A Pts Email: russell@talk-media.uk
(Pan); Aguila (Slv) 5-1 Port Layola (Blz) SCSA Eagles (C) 12 10 2 0 62 12 32
Belvedere 12 7 0 5 34 28 21 AD PRODUCTION MANAGER
Aug 13 – Los Angeles Aug 21-22: Independiente (Pan) 1-0 Port Talk Media Ltd: Nick Bond
Los Angeles FC (USA) 4 (Olivera 18, 758 Boyz 12 5 2 5 40 20 17 Tel. 01732 445325
Layola (Blz); Aguila (Slv) 2-0 Olimpia (Hon)
Bouanga 45+5 pen, 66, Bogusz 61) Soualiga 12 0 0 12 4 80 0 Email: nick@talk-media.uk
Aug 29: Independiente (Pan) 0-3 Aguila
San Jose Earthquakes (USA) 1 (Lopez 41) (Slv); Olimpia (Hon) 1-1 Antigua (Gua) PUBLISHER Steve Brown
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF CONSUMER
Quarter-Finals Final Standings SAINT KITTS & NEVIS ADVERTISING Oswin Grady
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Gill Lambert
P W D L F A Pts Regular Season
Aug 17 – Columbus PRINT PRODUCTION MANAGER
Aguila (Q) 4 3 1 0 10 1 10 P W D L F A Pts Georgina Harris
Columbus Crew (USA) 1 (Hernandez 41) Antigua (Q) 4 2 2 0 7 3 8 St Peters* 18 10 5 3 40 23 35 PRINT PRODUCTION CONTROLLERS
New York City FC (USA) 1 (Martinez 1) Olimpia 4 2 1 1 10 4 7 Cayon* 18 9 7 2 34 16 34 Hayley Brown & Kelly Orriss
Columbus Crew win 4-3 on pens Independiente 4 1 0 3 2 8 3 Old Road Jets United* 18 8 8 2 38 14 32 DISTRIBUTION
Port Layola 4 0 0 4 3 16 0 St Pauls United* 18 9 4 5 31 20 31 Great Britain: Seymour Distribution Ltd
Aug 17 – Chester Village Superstars 18 8 6 4 35 23 30 2 East Poultry Avenue, London, EC1A 9PT
Philadelphia Union (USA) 1 (Uhre 45+3) Group D Conaree 18 6 5 7 24 24 23 www.seymour.co.uk
Mazatlan (Mex) 1 (Escoboza 59) Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland:
Bath United 18 7 2 9 17 20 23 Newspread Tel: +353 23 886 3850
Philadelphia Union win 4-3 on pens Aug 14-15: Real Esteli (Nca) 3-0 Managua Newtown United** (R) 18 7 2 9 20 30 23
(Nca); Municipal (Gua) 3-1 Guanacasteca (Crc) Garden Hotspurs (R) 18 3 7 8 19 28 16
Aug 17 – Seattle Aug 20-21: Real Esteli (Nca) 2-1 Saprissa Trafalgar Southstars (R) 18 0 0 18 14 74 0
Seattle Sounders (USA) 0 (Crc); Guanacasteca (Crc) 1-1 Managua (Nca) *Advance to championship round
Los Angeles FC (USA) 3 (Hollingshead 14, Aug 29: Guanacasteca (Crc) 1-0 Real Esteli **Lost promotion-relegation
Kamara 25, Bouanga 53) (Nca); Saprissa (Crc) 1-0 Municipal (Gua) play-off 2-1 to Mantab United SUBSCRIPTIONS
Aug 17 – Carson Final Standings Championship Round ORDER HOTLINE
America (Mex) 0 P W D L F A Pts
Colorado Rapids (USA) 0 Saprissa (Q) 4 3 0 1 10 4 9 St Pauls United* 3
P W
2
D
1
L
0
F
8
A
4
Pts
7
+44 (0)1959 543 747
Colorado Rapids win 9-8 on pens Real Esteli (Q) 4 2 1 1 6 3 7 Lines open Mon-Fri, 8.30am-5pm
St Peters* 3 1 2 0 5 4 5
Municipal 4 1 1 2 4 4 4 Canyon 3 1 1 1 5 4 4 or visit shop.kelsey.co.uk/WSC
Semi-Finals Managua 4 1 1 2 4 7 4 Old Road Jets United 3 0 0 3 5 11 0
Guanacasteca 4 1 1 2 3 9 4 *Advance to final SUBSCRIPTIONS RATES
Aug 21 – Columbus Full annual subscription rate (13 issues)
Columbus Crew (USA) 3 (Rossi 12, 43, UK: £113.62, EU & NA: £128.88, ROW: £140.88.
Final
Hernandez 53) 2024 CONCACAF CARIBBEAN CUP CONTACT US
Philadelphia Union (USA) 1 (Gazdag 32) Editorial: wos.ed@kelsey.co.uk
Aug 12: St Pauls United 3-0 St Peters
Group Stage Aug 16: St Peters 0-2 St Pauls United (agg 0-5)
UK subscription & back issue orderline:
Aug 21 – Los Angeles 01959 543 747
Los Angeles FC (USA) 4 (Bogusz 42, Group A Overseas subscription orderline:
0044 (0) 1959 543 747
Kamara 45, Bouanga 59, O’Brien 75)
Colorado Rapids (USA) 0 Aug 20-22: Mount Pleasant (Jam) 0-2 SURINAME Toll free USA subscription orderline:
1-888-777-0275
Cavalier (Jam); Real Hope 1-1 Police (Tri) Regular Season Customer service website:
Third Place Play-Off Aug 27-29: Arnett Gardens (Jam) 1-2 Mount P W D L F A Pts help.kelsey.co.uk/support/home
Pleasant (Jam); Cavalier (Jam) 4-1 Police (Tri) Transvaal* 18 12 4 2 45 10 40 Customer service & subscription
Aug 25 – Chester Robinhood* 18 11 7 0 50 17 40 postal address:
Voorwaarts* 18 10 6 2 23 9 36 World Soccer Customer Service Team
Philadelphia Union (USA) 2 (Baribo 41, 44) Current Standings
Kelsey Publishing Ltd, The Granary,
Colorado Rapids (USA) 2 (Harris 38, Larraz 49) P W D L F A Pts Inter Moengotapoe* 18 10 4 4 44 25 34
Downs Court, Yalding Hill, Yalding,
Colorado Rapids win 3-1 on pens Cavalier 2 2 0 0 6 1 6 Notch 18 9 7 2 34 15 34 Maidstone, Kent, ME18 6AL
Mount Pleasant 2 1 0 1 2 3 3 PVV 18 8 2 8 28 25 26
Final Real Hope 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 Flora 18 5 1 12 20 45 16
Police 2 0 1 1 2 5 1 Broki 18 3 1 14 23 54 10
Aug 25 – Columbus Arnett Gardens 1 0 0 1 1 2 0 Inter Wanica 18 2 3 13 19 52 9
Columbus Crew (USA) 3 (Hernandez 45, Leo Victor (R) 18 2 1 15 13 47 7
90+2, Russell-Rowe 90+4) Group B *Advance to finals stage
Los Angeles FC (USA) 1 (Giroud 57)
Aug 21-22: Cibao (Dom) 0-0 Moca (Dom); Finals Stage
Ouanaminthe (Hai) 1-1 Port of Spain (Tri) ● La Gazzetta dello Sport (Italy)
2024 CENTRAL AMERICAN CUP Aug 27-28: Moca (Dom) 3-2 Port of Spain Semi-Finals ● Kicker (Germany) ● Marca (Spain)
● Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (Germany)
(Tri); Grenades (Atg) 1-2 Cibao (Dom) Aug 10-11: ● ELF Voetbal (Netherlands) ● Fanatik (Turkey)
Group Stage Transvaal 1-0 Inter Moengotapoe; ● A Bola (Portugal) ● De Telegraaf (Netherlands)
Current Standings Robinhood 2-0 Voorwaarts ● Nemzeti Sport (Hungary) ● Tipsbladet (Denmark)
● World Soccer (UK)
Group A P W D L F A Pts Aug 18-19:
Moca 2 1 1 0 3 2 4 Voorwaarts 0-2 Robinhood (agg 0-4);
Aug 13-15: Motagua (Hon) 4-1 Tauro (Pan); Cibao 2 1 1 0 2 1 4 Inter Moengotapoe 0-2 Transvaal (agg 0-3)
San Francisco (Pan) 0-0 Diriangen (Nca) Ouanaminthe 1 0 1 0 1 1 1
Aug 22: Tauro (Pan) 1-2 Diriangen (Nca); Port of Spain 2 0 1 1 3 4 1 Final
San Francisco (Pan) 0-1 Herediano (Crc) Grenades 1 0 0 1 1 2 0 Aug 24: Transvaal 0-2 Robinhood

WORLD SOCCER 97
 MY BIGGEST
GAME
Martijn Reuser
Ipswich Town v Bolton Wanderers
1999-2000 Division One play-off semi-final second leg
Earlier this year, Ipswich won promotion to the Premier League
for the first time since winning the play-offss in 2000. Their semi-
final clash with Bolton that season was a classic – and the
Tractor Boys’ Dutch winger Reuser was att the heart of it…

I joined Ipswich on loan from Ajaxx

in March, just a couple of months
before this game. The move happened
quickly. When George Burley called and
Ipswich hero…Reuser
said: ‘We need you to help us get promooted celebrates scoring in
to the Premier League’, I decided to go.. the play-off semis
Two days later, I was on the plane.
Ipswich had been trying to win
promotion for a few years. Once I got
∆ ∆
there, the players, the fans and the press extra-time, we had to defend as Bolton
made me aware of how important it was. pushed forward. I had a good connection
There was a big togetherness and a with Richard Naylor, who used his strength
determination to get it right that season. to hold the ball up well and then played it
I expected to start more games during through to me.
that loan spell, but George saw me as a I went one-on-one with their keeper,
player who could come off the bench and Jussi Jaaskelainen. I wanted to get the ball
make a difference. Sometimes that was onto my right foot but that didn’t work so
difficult to accept because I was playing I had to go with my left instead. I shot
quite well, but the team was always the across goal and it went into the top corner.
most important thing. The eruption of energy and enth husiasm
After drawing the first leg 2-2, we were I felt in that moment was ind describable
full of confidence going into the second – we knew we were goin ng to Wembley.
leg at home. There was a buzz around the Our supporters invaded the pitch at
place. The atmosphere was electric. But full-time, which was amazing. It’s the sort
Bolton were stronger than I thought and of thing you see on television, but when
they gave us a really tough game. Sam you actually get to experience it you feel
Allardyce had prepared them well. overwhelmed. It took us a while to get
There was a lot of excitement. So much seconds to complete his hat-trick. Tony back to the dressing room. Matt Holland
happened during the game and we went Mowbray had gone up front and won the was basically naked by then because the
through many different emotions. We fell header to set him up. The relief when fans had taken all his kit!
behind three times but always came back. that goal went in was unbelievable. It’s easy to say when something ends
I remember the referee getting a lot Bolton were a man down, which positively, but I always felt we were going
of stick from their players for some of helped, but we were the better team
the decisions that went our way. We got in extra-time. We got another penalty,
three penalties that night and a couple which Jamie Clapham scored, and their
It took us a while to get back to the
of them were a bit harsh. It’s hard when players went crazy again. Then Robbie dressing room. Matt Holland was
you feel like the referee is against you, Elliott was sent off for a foul on me, so basically naked by then because
but they were complaining about him we were playing against nine men.
all the time, which might have affected Late on, in the second half of the fans had taken all his kit
their concentration.
We were 3-2 down when I came on in to get promoted. Most of that squad
the second half. I just wanted to make an had never played in the Premier League
impact and create some chances. I tried before so it was a new adventure for
my best, but it was difficult. With a few us. A new chapter in our own careers,
minutes to go, I had my doubts. and also for Ipswich. It brought a lot
The good thing about that team was of attention to the club and the town.
that someone would always stand up After 22 years away, I’m excited to
in important moments. This time it was Decisive…Reuser see them back again.
Jim Magilton, who equalised in the dying slides home his finish Interview by Sean Cole

NEXT ISSUE ON SALE OCTOBER 25

DON’T MISS...

Pre-order now!
ON SALE: October 18 PRICE: £9.99
shop.kelsey.co.uk/product/the-official-world-soccer-annual-2024
 with the
ve
In lo iful game?
beaut ck out t st o
he late autumn.
ffe rs on a g r e a t s election

Che ks th is e Pitch P
ublishing
ll boo th
of footba
e to visit
ile devic
your mob nd offers. ores.
low with
be a als d bookst
goo
QR code latest de all other
Scan the ore and view the s, WHSmith and
st ne
Amazon ble at Watersto
aila
Also av

er to
gister fo r o ur newslett
wards. TRY
EE and re ws and a
YOU
BEFORE
R ie
BUY
les F , re v
.uk
sports tit releases
reds of top rthcoming
hing.co
publis
h un d n on fo
ers from rmatio
ample chapt th e latest info
w.pitch blishing
ww
s ll
Read receiv e a PitchPu