When Joan Laporta came to power back in 2003, Barcelona was a club in turmoil. It had been four years since since the Blaugrana had won a major trophy and the Catalan club could barely cope with the immense dominance of rivals Real Madrid and Valencia. 

Not now, though. Just six months ago, Barcelona were left reeling from a loss to David Moyes’ Real Sociedad  at the Anoeta. Luis Enrique’s tenure was hanging on by the skin of his teeth, and the board was forced to call early elections to dissolve the tension. Bartomeu, for all it was worth, was a dead man walking. 

Remarkably, days out from the election, Bartomeu was considered the favourite for the presidential hot-seat at the expense of, as Agusti Benedito put it, his worst enemy. But it seemed the businessman with airport and seaport facilities to his name was always that one step ahead. At the end of the day, Laporta made a meal of his campaign, and if anything, he was his own worst enemy. 

In early March, a poll from Catalan radio show El Club de la Mitjanit found that the former president had 51% percent of the votes, a sizeable majority over Bartomeu who had only garnered 27% of the votes from respondents, that is, before he even confirmed his intention to run as president. 

But, in hindsight, his three-month campaign can be characterised by one which was severely disorganised and grossly improvised. For a man who, as a former politician arguably knew of the secrets to political success, his mistakes costed him oh so dearly. 

Of all presidential candidates, Laporta was the last one to submit a bid for presidency. His lengthy hesitancy in announcing his bid was only a sign of things to come in a campaign which was shallow, lacking in any real substance and full of urgency. 

“A vote for Joan would be a vote for La Masia, for UNICEF, and for the Barça of Cruyff, Messi and Guardiola” was his catch-cry. However catchy his slogan proved to bed, the campaign in the end seemed more self-centred than club centred with his message wavering.

“My relationship with [Lionel] Messi is great. We’re telepathic,” Laporta would say, only for Bartomeu to hit back with: “I’m not; I pick up the phone.” The 52-year-old was making the point that it was under him that Messi initially flourished and that under Rosell, then Bartomeu, the 28-year-old was unhappy with life at Barca. Effectively, Laporta was the best man to keep Messi happy at the club and away from those wishing to sell him. 

He also focused on the Neymar fraud case and the transfer ban in what he considered to be the destruction of La Masia. Ironically, the man who had been so vocal of Real Madrid’s Galactico policy as well as being a staunch defender of championing the likes of Sergio Samper and Gerard Deulofeu, said that he was the key to bringing in Paul Pogba – a gifted yet inexplicably expensive signing – citing a good relationship with both player and club. 

Then there’s the Qatar sponsorship, which Laporta promised would be removed and replaced with their former UNICEF sponsorship. 

Meanwhile, Bartomeu built steadily towards victory after calling for elections in January. Success on the pitch engineered by Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez in what was a treble winning season under the guidance of Luis Enrique effectively saw the president’s popularity soar.

A Catalan phrase effectively summed up Bartomeu’s prospect: “quan la pilota entra, millor no fer-nos mal which means “when the ball crosses the line, it’s better not to hurt ourselves” – if it isn’t broken, why fix it. 

In addition, his ability to resolve the Dani Alves dispute, sign Aleix Vidal from Sevilla, tie up Luis Enrique to the club as well as acquire Arda Turan, a move which has his fingerprints all over it, only helped to secure his position at the club.

But Barcelona pride themselves in being ‘mes que un club’ and that remains Bartomeu’s biggest challenge, that is, to ensure Messi remains at the club for years to come, to restore La Masia to its previous best as well as unravelling and implementing future local talent, something which has proved contentious thus far.

Judging by the support he got from the 47,000 votes from the socios, Bartomeu effectively has the power to move the club forward. The hard work starts now.

It was approximately one year ago when Luiz Felipe Scolari’s managerial tenure as Brazil’s head coach looked in tatters. Some would argue that partially through no fault of his own, Scolari’s stint was left in a sorry state. Neymar’s campaign was over after having his back broken in the latter stages of their World Cup quarterfinal against Colombia courtesy of a cynical challenge. Such was the loss that the players all donned snap backs in support of their injured warrior, a move Dunga at the time was highly critical of. Forget about Neymar and get on with the job was the message.

Fast forward 12 months and Dunga himself found himself in a similar career defining moment. Ironically, once again, it was Colombia who had ended Neymar’s participation in a major international sporting competition, this time through a four match suspension handed down for the 23-year-old’s antics.

Neymar, of course, had acted like a spoiled kid who was dissatisfied with everything that went against him. His frustration at being unable to break down Colombia’s stubborn defense clearly evident as he was lucky to escape a booking towards the end of the first half after protesting against the referee and subsequently punching the ball away. He would later try to headbutt an opponent and strike another with the ball, all of which culminated in a dramatic downfall. A monster had been unleashed, so they said.

Although Dunga faced criticism for his move in naming a still immature Neymar as captain of world soccer’s most successful side, Dunga largely dealt with the situation with class and didn’t allow such a controversial scenario to derail the Selečao’s attempt to reach the knockout stages. The fans too accepted Neymar’s suspension with grace.

But unlike his heroics against Peru in the match earlier in the tournament, Neymar endured a sub-par performance against the Colombians in part due to a disciplined defensive set-up to deny the 23-year-old space. With Dunga’s tactics largely based around feeding Neymar the ball, effectively shutting the attacker out meant Brazil had no chance with such inflexible tactics. When afforded space, though, the Barcelona man was guilty of overplaying in situations where laying it off to a teammate would’ve been a more prudent decision. Not to mention the fact that he had missed a sitter of a header yards out from the goal.

In Neymar’s absence, Joao Miranda, a no-nonsense defender, has stepped up to the plate and led the side with conviction. Thiago Silva, who was perhaps unfairly stripped of the captaincy after Dunga’s re-appointment, also led from the back. His opening goal against Venezuela off a corner after some solid build-up play helped settle some early Selecao nerves. But Silva is a leader who walks the talk.

But, bar the nervy moments towards the end, Brazil’s defense has significantly improved. Thiago Silva has performed well, Miranda has been assured, Alves has shown versatility in defense and attack, playing as a left winger for the final moments of that same match, and Felipe Luis has been solid. Marquinhos also provides a solid option in the back and would fit in with ease. Meanwhile, David Luiz seems to have found a new role as a defensive midfielder next to Fernandinho at the expense of Elias.

More importantly, Neymar’s absence seems to be a blessing in disguise. Sure, the Barcelona attacker is a class act. He’s been the only Brazilian in recent years to have been touted as a prospective Ballon d’Or winner since Kaka. And it would be far-fetched to suggest that Brazil would be a better side without him.

Yet, the match against Venezuela demonstrated a fact that the vast majority of people had seemingly forgotten about. Brazil have other high profile attackers who are considered to be up there with the best. Robinho is an ex-Real Madrid striker who, although his career is in decline, still has the ability to be a worthy deputy on his day. Willian, a talismanic Chelsea winger, and Coutinho have proven to be a midfield sensation for Liverpool over the past few seasons.

And it was the trio of them who stepped up when called upon. Coutinho ably performed in his wide role, providing flair while linking up well with teammates. Willian’s industrious nature in attacking both wings and providing assistance in defense was abundantly clear,while Robinho has the ability to knit together an attack. Meanwhile, the versatility of new Liverpool signing Roberto Firmino has given Dunga a plethora of alternate attacking outlets.

If anything, instead of the previously one-sided nature of Brazil’s attack, Neymar’s absence and the resurgence of key players may prove to be a defining feature of the Selecao in the years ahead.

Against Paraguay, who alongside Chile and Argentina, are one of three undefeated nations in the Copa America, the quartet of them will need to once again step up to the task at hand. While their future in the Copa remains dubious, Neymar’s absence may well be a blessing in disguise. And with a tough 2-year long World Cup qualifications stage beginning in October, this change is exactly what Dunga needed.

The caption of a graphic that Nike Soccer uploaded onto their social media channels recently read: Strong Alone. Unstoppable together. If anything, Australia’s history-making quarter-finals berth into the Women’s World Cup was the manifestation of exactly that.

While the Matildas cannot exactly boast high-profile players the likes of five-time World Player of the Year Marta, United States’ own superstar Megan Rapinoe or France’s star-attacker Eugenie Le Sommers, the Aussie line-up isn’t quite bereft of talent.

Australia goalkeeper Lydia Williams has been assured in between the sticks ever since replacing Melissa Barbieri in the starting line-up; Laura Alleway has proven to be lethal in the air; while Lisa De Vanna has proven to be a nightmare for opposition defenses.

But the key to the Matildas’ stunning rise is not simply the result of strength in depth in a roster that boasts a hybrid of youthful flair and experienced exuberance, but rather the cohesiveness of a side brimming with confidence, all that under the tenure of a youthful, yet tactical adept and organized coach.

Pitted against the might of the United States, Sweden and Nigeria, a positive result in the Group of Death seemed unlikely. But instead of being caught up in the hype surrounding the difficult task of qualifying from their group against such strong nations, the Matildas, let their work on the pitch do the talking. And the Aussies have proven to be worthy opponents.

In their opener against the United States, Alen Stajcic’s side gave the Americans a run for their money. Instead of sitting back and inviting pressure upon themselves, the Australians took a more proactive approach, and had it not been for the heroics of Hope Solo, and a Megan Rapinoe brace, things could easily have turned out differently. In the matches that followed for Australia, they comfortably defeated African champions Nigeria before holding the world’s fifth best side, Sweden, to book a place in the knockout stages.

Earlier, captain De Vanna had spoken of how far the Matildas had come in Canada, saying: “For them to see the outcome, take on the US, have a really good first-half, beat Nigeria, get a result against Sweden – they’re starting to get the feeling of what it’s like to be successful.”

Now, they can count Brazil to their list of high-profile scalps. Despite entering as favorites, Marta, who herself endured a vastly underwhelming performance, could hardly contain a lively green and gold outfit whose disciplined tactical approach saw the Aussies close down space in the midfield and halt Brazil’s attacking threat, and were able to absorb pressure and attack with intensity when it counted.

Kyah Simon’s goal in the 80th minute adequately demonstrates that. Australia managed to capitalize on some scrappy play out from the back as their midfielders pressed high up the pitch, denying the Brazilians time and space. And second, after the turnover, substitute Katrina Gorry played an incisive through ball for De Vanna, who’s parried shot found Simon at the back post.

For Brazil, there’s no going back. But for Australia, there’s so much potential going forward, so much so that Brazilian coach Vadao was left impressed by the Matildas’ performance.

“Australia were very efficient and clinical when it counted with the goal, congratulations to them.

“It came down to a simple little thing: losing the ball in midfield. We had controlled the match, especially in the second half. But we weren’t capable of finding an equalizer after conceding the goal.”

Simply put, the Matildas have the ability to play coolly through pressure and strike with pace, technical ability and ruthless counter-attacks that leave the best defenses reeling. Stajcic claimed after the match that his side are the best in the world when on the attack, and it’s hard to disagree with him.

Furthermore, the Matildas defense, under the leadership of Alleway, seems much more assured, poised and disciplined while the meteoric rise of 20-year-old full back Caitlin Foord has given Stajcic more flexibility in attack and defense.

But their success is hardly a coincidence. After the departure of Hesterine De Reus, Stajcic came onboard and almost immediately led the Matildas to an Asian Cup just last year. However, after four months of pre-tournament preparations, their disappointments in past World and Asian Cups can be forgotten now as the Aussies are reveling in their success by becoming the first Australian international soccer side to have won in a knockout stage match in the World Cup. And their feats now see a whole nation join the bandwagon. For the Matildas, this could be their year.

However, one must not get carried away. Indeed, Brazil may be behind them. Nevertheless, there are tougher opponents on the way.

As it stands though, Australia are two wins away from the World Cup final, an extraordinary feat for a nation in which its own women’s soccer league, the W-League, is a semi-professional competition. No doubt winning the nation’s first World Cup knockout game is arguably the biggest achievement in Australia’s not-so-rich footballing history, and it’s a huge achievement that will undoubtedly change the way the sport is perceived in Australia. The Matildas have gone from frightening the world’s elite to beating them, and no matter what transpires next, things will only get better from here.

Former French diplomat Jerome Champagne has announced his intention of challenging Sepp Blatter for the FIFA presidency at next year’s elections.

Last week, Blatter announced that he would seek a fifth term in office as the head of world football’s governing body, citing ‘unfinished business’ as the main reason to run for re-election.

“You see a mission is never finished. And my mission is not finished,” said Blatter.

“I got through the last congress in Sao Paulo not only the impression but the support of the majority, a huge majority of national associations asking: ‘Please go on, be our president also in future.'”

Champagne needs the approval of five member football associations, with the associations to be announced in the official declarations which take place in January of next year.

Nevertheless, the 56-year-old believes there is an urgent need to rebalancing of FIFA due to ‘economic polarisation’ amongst other detrimental matters.

“I have just written to the Fifa Ad-hoc Electoral Committee and its president, Mr Domenico Scala, to confirm my intention to run for Fifa president,” he wrote on his website.

“We have to take clear and informed decisions on whether we want to continue with the current economic polarisation, and the sporting imbalances it brings in its wake, or be willing to rebalance the game in our globalised 21st century.

“The next 10 years will be crucial for football and very particularly for Fifa, which is at a crossroads and in need of sweeping changes that must take it further than what has been accomplished to date.”

Champagne is a former French diplomat who held the position from 1983 to 1998. Following the 1998 World Cup, however, he became a consultant in international football, serving at FIFA from for over a decade.

Since joining FIFA, he held the positions of international adviser to the President (1999–2002), Deputy Secretary General (2002–2005), Delegate of the President (2005–2007) and finally Director of International Relations (2007–2010) where he worked closely with Blatter.

His chances of potentially beating the current president in the elections, which will be held in June of next year, are considered, with the 56-year-old admitting earlier this year that he isn’t the favourite to prevail: “No, I don’t think I can beat Blatter. He is someone of relevance and we’ll see but it’s a very hypothetical question. A lot of things can happen.”

However, Champagne is known to be a visionary of sorts, his ideas are well thought out and many believe that he is the ideal candidate to address FIFA’s issues. In addition, he is keen to work closely with referees to improve the decision making processes of the game including the introduction of an orange card and a sin bin amongst other things.

“The election must not just be a coronation,” he said. “We should have public debates in the congresses of the six confederations and debates on television for viewers and fans to ask questions.

“I want full transparency for this election to push the debate forward.”

Time will tell how this all pans out. Beating Blatter, who is established in his role, is no easy task. However, with corruption amongst other things having already damaged the reputation of FIFA, change is needed. And many might see Champagne as the answer to the governing body’s chronic problems.

For the third time in less than a month, cross-town rivals Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are set to meet at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday evening.

On the outset, it may seem like a derby of little value – after all, the Spanish season is less than a month old. Yet, there is still so much on the line – neither side can boast of a bright start in the race towards the La Liga title. And this match could be catalyst needed to spark the team’s alight.

Following 2-1 aggregate Spanish Supercopa over Los Blancos a few weeks back, Diego Simeone’s men were unconvincing in their league outing against Rayo Vallecano. Similarly, their previous match against recently promoted side Eibar was equally as disappointing, running out 2-1 winners and their four points after the first two matches sees the league champions sit in sixth position.

Meanwhile, Carlo Ancelotti’s troops find themselves languishing in 10th position with just the single win – surprising given that their summer spending spree has yet to produce any sort of positive result. And their previous outing against Real Sociedad is an ideal reflection of their lacklustre form. The Bernabeu outfit seemed to be in cruise control after an early 2-0 lead courtesy of Sergio Ramos and Gareth Bales strikes in the fifth and 11th minute respectively.

Yet, La Real regrouped spectacularly and goals from Inigo Martinez and Carlos Vela in conjunction with David Zurutuza double saw the Andalusians run away with a famous victory.

The stakes could not be higher. A loss for Real would see them trail Barcelona by a whopping six points, provided that the Catalans win, of course. For Atletico, a loss would see them languish five points behind the early pace setters. Indeed, ranking points matter, and so too do bragging rights. And, truth be told, there’s nothing better than going one-up on your opponents.

Real and Atletico have a long history of rivalry, of course, and such a match, more often than not, is seen as a clash of contrasting political ideologies. Atletico represent the working class, Real – the richer bureaucrats. Historically, though, Real Madrid are seen as the ‘establishment club’. Atletico, on the other hand, are often characterised as rebellious in nature – “sentimiento de rebeldía” as many would have it.

During the years of Francisco Franco’s dictatorship, however, Atletico were the preferred side due to their association with the nation’s air force. At such a time, Spain itself was isolated from the international scene and, due to Real Madrid’s success on the European stage, Franco sought to use the club as a way of restoring international relations, with one of Franco’s officials remarking: “Real Madrid are the best ambassadors we have.”

As a result, Atletico fans are said to have adopted a more left-wing political position and are said to have chanted that Real are “el equipo del gobierno, la vergüenza del país” — the team of the government, the shame of the country.

Nevertheless, in recent years, it seems Atletico have gained the upper hand, and defender, Miranda, is adamant of a positive result. “I think Atletico can battle to win all of the competitions they are in this season,” Miranda told Spanish source AS.
“We’ll do what we can to bring more silverware to the club. Up until now I’ve been able to be a part of many of the team’s successes and I’m very grateful to the club for that.
“We are going to try to emulate all of the successes from last season.
“I don’t think we will struggle after the departures.”
Carlo Ancelotti, though, will be boosted by the return of Cristiano Ronaldo – without him, Real’s attack have looked ordinary.

Predicted result: Real Madrid 1-2 Atletico Madrid

As we reported last week, the 2015 International Champions Cup will be expanding to Asia next summer. And now reports confirm today that talks are under away to have some of the games hosted in Australia in July, 2015 (as well as the United States).

The news comes after the Premier of Victoria confirmed that the Victorian State Government is currently in the process of securing three pre-season fixtures to be played between the world’s elite at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), a multi-purpose arena with a capacity of over 100,000 spectators.

Denis Napthine, the premier, also went on to claim that the government is specifically targeting clubs the likes of European Champions Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea.

The matches will most likely take place on July 25, 29 and 31 at the MCG, with the demand for tickets expected to bring millions of Australian dollars to the state economy.

The news comes as a timely reminder of the rapid growth of Australian soccer in recent years, and the valiant displays of the Socceroos at the World Cup in the ‘group of death’ suggest that the future is bright.

Domestically, the A-League itself has also experienced exponential growth in recent seasons; the signings of Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero, and more recently, the loan signing of David Villa to Melbourne City, a franchise of Manchester City, is a testament to soccer’s increasingly positive influence on the public domain.

And although Australians have had the pleasure of welcoming the likes of Manchester United and Juventus in recent years in an attempt to gauge the interest of many who lack genuine enthusiasm to support the growth of the game on a whole, the arrival of International Champions Cup would be beyond influential.

Like Americans, Australians love their sport, and while soccer often plays second fiddle to rugby and the AFL in terms of media coverage, the arrival of such high calibre clubs would definitely help in bringing the game to the fore, and make it a truly universal game.

So while you might be forgiven for turning a blind eye on Juventus, turning down an opportunity to watch Ronaldo, Bale and others work their magic would be too good to miss.

Premier League club Liverpool is reportedly weighing up a transfer for free-agent Samuel Eto’o in a bid to bolster their depleted attack, reports The Guardian.

The 33-year-old enjoyed a relatively successful Premier League season, scoring on nine occasions from 21 league appearances for Chelsea.

Despite this, Chelsea opted to release the player at season’s end, and he has since been in talks over a possible move to Eredivisie champions Ajax.

However, it has now been revealed that Brendan Rodgers believes Eto’o is of enough quality to bolster a depleted Liverpool front line that currently boasts Daniel Sturridge and Rickie Lambert. And it is believed that Rodgers is certain Eto’o is the perfect striker to fill the void left behind by Luis Suarez, who recently departed for Barcelona.

This news comes as a shock with the Merseyside club having previously targeted the likes of Edinson Cavani, Radamel Falcao and Marco Reus to replace Suarez as the club’s first-choice striker. Furthermore, at 33 years of age, Eto’o is at the twilight of his career and there are doubts as to the impact he will be able to have on the club.

It is believed that the striker took a £13million wage cut to join Chelsea last season. This time around, however, the wage demands of the player may prove to be a stumbling block.

Miroslav Klose has announced his retirement from international soccer less than one month after winning the World Cup with Germany in Brazil and becoming the all-time leading goalscorer in World Cup history.

The 36-year-old enjoyed a largely successful international career spanning for over 13 years where he scored 71 goals in 137 appearances for the nation.

The attacker, who broke Brazilian Ronaldo’s all-time World Cup top scorer record by scoring his 15th and 16th goal in Brazil, believes the time was right for him to hang up his boots on his international career.

“With the title in Brazil, a childhood dream came true,” Klose told the official German FA (DFB) website.

“There’s no better way for me to end my time with the German team than by winning the World Cup.

“The team’s success always came first for me. We have reached the objective that we set [by winning the World Cup].

“I am proud and happy that I was able to help shape this great success for German football.

“(It was) a unique and wonderful time and so many unforgettable moments with Die Nationalmannschaft”.

Klose then chose to reflect on his international career, revealing that it was in his nature to score goals and took some time out to thank his teammate for their support.

“I have also achieved some personal goals,” he mused. “I am a striker and my job is to score goals.

“It was never about records for me, but always about helping the team. I have to rely on my team-mates in order to be successful, so I would like to thank all my team-mates.”

Head coach Joachim Low paid tribute to Klose, saying that he was top professional and is grateful for the chance to work with him.

“(Klose was) someone you can always rely on, an international star and one of the greatest strikers,” he said.

“When I joined the DFB as the assistant coach in 2004, Klose was already there. I am happy and grateful that I was able to work with Miroslav Klose.”

Klose made his international debut back in 2001 in a World Cup qualifier against Albania, a match in which he headed home two minutes time to give the Germans a 2-1 win. He has since played in four World Cups in what has been an illustrious career.

Barcelona has revealed that new signing Thomas Vermaelen has been sidelined indefinitely with a right hamstring injury.

The 28-year-old passed a vigorous medical on Saturday before signing a five year contract with the Camp Nou outfit. However, the club has now revealed that the Belgian international picked up an injury whilst on duty in the World Cup back in June, where he made two appearances en-route to a quarter-finals berth.

And the club has now confirmed that Vermaelen’s debut will be put on hold as he undergoes a recovery process.

“New signing Thomas Vermaelen injured his right hamstring while playing at the World Cup in June. His presence in training sessions will depend on how his recovery progresses,” read a statement on the club’s official website.

Vermaelen joined Barcelona after spending five seasons at Arsenal, where he made 119 appearances and was awarded the captaincy.

Prior to his time at Arsenal, however, the defender was part of Ajax’s famed academy before making 99 League appearances for the first team.

It is believed Luis Enrique sees Vermaelen as an ideal replacement for the now retired Carles Puyol. However, many have questioned the motive behind the signing of a defender who has struggled with injury in recent seasons.

The Belgian forms a new look Blaugrana side after a summer of heavy spending, which has seen the likes of Ivan Rakitic, Luis Suarez and Marc Andre ter-Stegen join Luis Enrique’s team.

Former Manchester United boss David Moyes could be set for a swift return to club management with reports suggesting that he is set to take over the helm of Turkish club Galatasaray.

The 51-year-old tactician was sacked by the Red Devils earlier this year after ten woeful months at Old Trafford, a period in which then Premier League champions slipped to seventh place in the league table.

However, despite a season which did his reputation more harm than good, it seems that Galatasaray are keen to quickly replace Roberto Mancini, who too was sacked after a disappointing season.

The fact that the Glaswegian was earlier spotted at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport only serves to fuel rumors that he is set to follow in the footsteps compatriot Graeme Souness, who still remains a popular figure at the Turkish club. Media reports from Galatasaray have confirmed that the club has held talks with Moyes regarding the vacant manager position.

Since leaving Manchester United, Moyes has been spending time in the United States at his vacation condo in Naples. He claims that he has received numerous managerial offers during his time off, adding that he is keen to overcome his traumatic experience by coaching a Champions League side.

“I have had a couple of opportunities to go back in and chosen to do do anything just now.

“I am going to look for what I feel is the right opportunity.”

He added: “I got my real first taste of the Champions League this year and I thought I showed I can manage at that level. I would like somewhere that would give me a chance of being in the Champions League or a club that has ambitions of being in the Champions League.

“It could be at home or abroad. I have always liked the thought of broadening my horizons and learning a bit more and at the moment I am quite comfortable watching and learning. I will go away and learn and look again to see what is happening.”

Should David Moyes land the Galatasaray job, the Turkish club would be the fourth club he has ever managed, having previously taken Preston North End, Everton and Manchester United under his wing.

The pride of a nation. Australia’s 2-3 defeat at the hands of the Netherlands was arguably their greatest result on the international stage, so much so that, for many fans, regardless of what the score line suggested, it felt like a win. And if their previous 3-1 loss at the hands of Chile wasn’t enough to persuade fans home and abroad, then yesterday’s game surely did just that.

Unforeseen and unscripted, the Socceroos proved their worth against a side that, just days ago, had dismantled an all-conquering Spain team – their gallant efforts on the pitch was just another indication that Australia weren’t just in Brazil as a decorative team, serving the mere purpose of filling up the numbers.

In fact, their exploits against a well-disciplined Dutch side proved that, contrary to popular belief, the Australians can play beautiful football. And, in what is his first World Cup, Ange Postecoglou showed why he currently is Australia’s greatest managerial export.

From the off, you could sense that something special would transpire. Unlike Australia’s nervy start against Chile, a match in which La Roja’s aggressive approach made sure that Jedinak and co. would begin right on the back-foot, drowning under intense pressure, the Socceroos took their game to the Dutch, and sought to play a brand of attacking football which evoked memories of the golden generation under Dutchman Guus Hiddink.

Postecoglou’s troops attempted to stretch the Netherlands defense, often exploiting the gaps on the wing as both wingers found themselves marauding along the flanks. The passing was exquisite, although the finishing touch not so much. Yet despite setback after setback, the Socceroos powered on, attempting to break down a stubborn back-line.

However, the difference in quality was evident. When given the chance to take the lead, Arjen Robben took the opportunity without a fuss. His goal in the 21st minute was a big blow to an inexperienced side, many of whom were only playing in their second World Cup fixture. Unlike the previous crops of players who featured heavily under the tutelages of Pim Verbeek and Holger Osieck, however, the Australians would not return to the shells, but instead looked to attack, encapsulating their typical fighting spirit.

Their exploits were finally rewarded with Tim Cahill’s Van Basten-esque volley and a Mile Jedinak penalty which, at one stage, looked as if the Socceroos would pull off a shock result.
That was not to be however, as the Dutch fought back thanks to some sluggish defending and a goalkeeping howler. On another day, however, Van Gaal may not have been so lucky.

The result, although a negative one on paper, puts the Australians in good stead in tournaments to come. Their valiant display, with their hearts on their sleeves, won over the hearts of neutrals and opposing supporters – to the point where the Oranje fans gave Tim Cahill a standing ovation as he walked off the World Cup pitch for the last time with his head held high.

Despite Cahill’s heroics, the side’s quick turnaround in form can only be attributed to one man. Unlike his more conservative predecessors who were more than happy to call upon the nation’s previous heroes, Ange Postecoglou underwent a squad regeneration in a hurry. Case in point: Sasa Ognenovski, who was expected to the side’s defensive linchpin, was given the axe. So too was former captain Lucas Neill and experienced warrior Luke Wilkshire.

His decision to field a squad filled mainly with Australia’s youngest stars was a bold move; in retrospect, a risk which paid off.

Next year, Australia play host to Asia’s biggest football competition, the Asian Cup – and based on their form, the tournament promises to be an unprecedented success.

First of all, though, they’ll need to navigate their way past the already dethroned world champions Spain. With nothing but pride to play for, expect the Socceroos to provide a stern challenge for Del Bosque’s men.

Indeed, Australia failed to qualify from the ‘Group of Death’, but what the youngsters showed was that they are able to match it with the best. It has been a World Cup that has united a nation and given it so much hope for the future. Their exploits are a reflection of football’s growing superiority in a country where rugby and cricket dominate the sporting dynamic. And for the Socceroos, a bright future for the game lies ahead.

Follow Cronan on Twitter: @Cronan_Yu

After signing Gareth Bale for a world-record transfer fee, Real Madrid’s pain of losing Mesut Ozil is Arsenal’s gain.

Once Bale was signed, Ozil’s departure was seemingly inevitable. Despite Los Blancos’ varying fortunes on the pitch, a direct result of the political battle waging between those that supported Mourinho and those against him, Real Madrid boasted a side possessing arguably the richest attacking wealth, and every match provided a genuine selection headache for the manager. The likes of Di Maria, Kaka, Modric, Ozil, Isco, Benzema and Ronaldo were consistently vying for places at the top, and it was expected that the acquisition of Bale would see some of these stars losing out on precious playing time.

Although no one requested a transfer, it had become clear that both Ozil and Di Maria had come to the realization that Bale’s transfer would see their starting berths come under threat.

Ozil said:

“At the weekend, I was certain that I would stay at Real Madrid, but afterwards I realized that I did not have the faith from the coach or the bosses. I am a player who needs this faith and that is what I have felt from Arsenal, which is why I have joined.”

With Arsenal having secured a £42.5m transfer for Ozil on what was a spectacular deadline day transfer, Arsenal supporters finally have something to smile about. It’s been eight long years since the Gunners have won any silverware, and now Arsenal are destined to grab a piece of silverware this season. Ozil’s transfer is a definite game-changer.

Known back in his homeland as the ‘German Messi’, Ozil has proven time and time again of his abilities with the ball at his feet. At the Bernabeu, Ronaldo, Benzema and Higuain were all beneficiaries of the 24-year-old’s quality passing. So often, Ozil was able to find that pass that was able to split open the defense, creating goalscoring opportunities for strikers. And there is no doubt that Giroud, who has been criticized last season for his lack of prowess in front of goal, will benefit from the German’s services.

Silky skills, clever passes and seemingly impossible turns are all part of the package that Ozil has to offer. These are aspects of his game that the Bernabeu’s faithful have been accustomed to witnessing week-in week-out.

Not only is he useful as a central attacking midfielder, but he also has qualities playing down the wing. He’s capable of weaving his way out of trouble and is often allowed to drift back in towards the center of the park. He is normally seen hugging the flank, followed by a swift change of pace that allows him to gracefully glide pass defenders. These are all trademarks of Ozil’s game, and he seemingly never fails to dazzle.

In La Liga last season, Ozil created a total of 91 chances that resulted in 13 assists and 9 goals.

The prospect of Ozil partnering with Santi Cazorla and Jack Wilshere will make most Arsenal supporters salivate. And at a young age of just 24 years, and having signed a five year contract, everything is in place for a successful spell in London.

Having been described by his former boss Jose Mourinho as a “unique player” who is “the best number ten in the world,” there is no doubt that the German magician belongs to a class of his own. A highly underrated footballer in many respects and a special midfielder, Mesut Ozil has all the ingredients to bring success back to the Emirates.

Follow Cronan on Twitter: @Cronan_Yu

His appointment was inevitable and unavoidable. Last week saw by far the worst kept secret in soccer become reality as Carlo Ancelotti signed a three year contract with Real Madrid, signaling the end of a long term pursuit by Florentino Perez for the manager, dating back to 2009, and simultaneously commencing what looks to be a fruitful relationship.

Late last month, Madrid announced the departure of Jose Mourinho, bringing to an end three successful yet turbulent years at the club. Political fall-outs with the club’s hierarchy, in conjunction with fraught relationships with fans, media and players all marred a reign, which despite winning every Spanish title on offer over a three year period in hindsight his reign will be seen as a failure

On the other side of the spectrum, the Italian tactician arrives at Madrid coming off a successful two-year spell at French based club Paris Saint-Germain. The signings of Thiago Silva and Zlatan Ibrahimovic amongst others brought about success en-route to a Ligue 1 title and a successful run into the quarter finals of the Champions League before their hopes of European success were dashed as they were eliminated by eventual semi-finalists Barcelona thanks in large to a brilliant display by hamstrung Lionel Messi.

Having been described as a ‘peacemaker’ by Madrid based Marca prior to his imminent arrival, Ancelotti will be tasked with not only wrestling away the coveted La Liga crown off their Catalan rivals, but also claiming the allusive La Decima, a title which played a role in his predecessor’s eventually departure.

Before he commences his pursuit of silverware, Ancelotti will be faced with the unavoidable task of rebuilding a side which has been left divided and lacking in confidence. And with egos of likes of Sergio Ramos, Cristiano Ronaldo and Pepe, it will be no easy task. Nevertheless, throughout his career, the Italian has been seen as a father-like figure and dressing room problems should prove to be a task he is capable of resolving.

Despite having obtained fewer trophies than Mourinho throughout his career, Ancelotti has the added benefit of playing at the professional level in what was considered to be the best league in Europe, Serie A. He has seemingly grown with the game. Before becoming a manager, he played as a technical midfielder in the famous Milan shirt under the guidance of Fabio Capello, from whom he picked up a vast array of tactical knowledge, which in turn allows for tactical flexibility.

Ancelotti will be expected to come up with a shrewd tactical plan. He has shown his knowledge of football through the use of several similar yet different formations throughout his career. This is different to Mourinho’s chronic counter-attacking styled football, which many fans were displeased with.

When he finally returned to San Siro as a manager, Ancelotti used a balanced 4-3-2-1 formation. This in turn evolved into a diamond at Chelsea and at PSG where he made use of a trequartista, a midfielder behind a lone striker. A perfect example would be Kaka’s role back at Milan or even Zidane’s, a role which he made famous during his time at the Juventus. And with the arrival of Isco imminent, he will surely be deployed to feature in that aforementioned role, a position which will bring the best out of both the player and the team.

It is expected that Ancelotti will stick with the 4-2-3-1, a formation which his predecessor had used. However he will offer tactical variations to the previously sterile counter-attacking style of play.

With Gonzalo Higuain set to leave, Benzema will lead Madrid’s attack with prodigy Alvaro Morata serving as his understudy. Isco and Mesut Ozil will have to fight for the trequartista role whilst, if the transfer is successful. If signed, Gareth Bale will line up on the flanks with Ronaldo set to retain his position, should he not leave the Bernabeu for Old Trafford. A ‘double pivot’ will be in place that will help in obtaining an attacking/defending balance with Alonso and Khedira/Modric set to feature in that role. Defense should see Ramos and Varane in the center with Arbeloa likely to lose his position to Carvajal, who recently returned after a spell at Bundesliga side Leverkusen and Marcelo expected to return as left back.

Despite the tactical differences between both managers, the support of media, Madridistas and the club’s hierarchy will be a decisive factor. Ancelotti comes in without a previous history of controversy. He has in the past enjoyed fruitful relationships with presidents such as Silvio Berlusconi and Roman Abramovich. He has a strong character and demands respect from the egos and should give club affiliates a much need confidence boost that their four year pursuit was not in vain.

And now that the Mourinho era now ended, Madrid need to move forward and put an end to the air of negativity surrounding the Bernabeu.

All in all, Ancelotti’s qualities both on and off the pitch are promising signs of a fruitful long term relationship. For he is the ideal replacement for Mourinho, the man for the future.

Follow Cronan on Twitter: @CrowzarY

After three successful years in charge at Malaga, and months of speculation regarding his managerial future, Manchester City finally announced the appointment of Manuel Pellegrini as manager, coming a month after the the sacking of Roberto Mancini. And according to City’s official club website, the Chilean will officially take up his managerial post on June 24th.

Even before the Chilean has even assumed the role as coach, there is already an air of negativity surrounding his appointment with some English media outlets describing him as a “big-spending foreigner with a modest trophy record.” These are the same people who hailed the appointment of David Moyes as manager of Manchester United despite not winning a single title during his ten year tenure at Everton. Injustice? I think so.

“What about his tenure at Real Madrid?” they ask. “He spent a whopping €200 million and still won nothing!” they exclaim. Well the fact of the matter is, El Ingeniero was appointed during what was a political battle inside the headquarters of Santiago Bernabeu. Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka were brought in whilst Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben were sold, all of these actions were against his own wishes.

“I didn’t have a voice or a vote at Madrid,” he told El Mercurio in an interview in 2010

“I can’t get anything out of an orchestra if I have the 10 best guitarists but I don’t have a pianist or a drummer.”

Pellegrini heads to a club in need of rebuilding. The Sky Blues suffered a somewhat humiliating season. The Manchester club, who were defending Premier League champions, were well off the pace, finishing 11 points off eventual champions and rivals Manchester United. They suffered a 1-0 defeat to Wigan (who were relegated from the EPL) in the FA Cup final, and were eliminated in extraordinary fashion in the group stages of the Champions League.

Compounded to this is the fact that the fans themselves are still emotionally attached to their former Italian tactician. This will certainly provide a Stamford Bridge-esque atmosphere, a tension between the manager/club directors and fans.

However, despite these certain negativities that are overshadowing his appointment, there is no doubt that Manuel Pellegrini will bring with him qualities that Mancini lacked.

Casual and very friendly, Pellegrini will bring with him an attractive brand of football, unlike that of Mancini. Pellegrini sides are built on strong defensive foundations. This in turn will allow for midfield and attacking creativity.

And with his four years at Manchester City about to commence, here are a few factors that will transform this mediocre yet cash-rich club into a prestigious team.

Experience and quality:

The 59 year old, who has managed an astonishing 10 clubs to date, will bring along with him a wealth of experience.  He has, over the course of his time as player and manager, evolved with the game and the tactics implemented will suit the current needs in a physical game.

Despite his duck in terms of winning European titles, he credentials are still worth praising.

During his time at Villarreal, he transformed a small club from a Spanish town near Valencia with little to no history and prestige into a well respected club. The Yellow Submarines managed 3rd place in La Liga in the 2004-05 season, were Champions League semi-finalists in 2005-06 and broke the big two in 2008.

Let’s not forget his efforts in helping Malaga secure Champions League football for the first time in their history. During the 2010-11 season, last season’s magical Champions League run into the semis was without big names such as Santi Cazorla. This should provide fans with the confidence that Pellegrini is the key to continued football success.

Tactical superiority:

Pellegrini is an enhanced version of Mancini, who at times was clueless with tactical choices. He previous spells at the aforementioned Spanish clubs proved flexibility and he has seemingly left every club better than before he had arrived.

With a well founded Barcelona blueprint making its way into the club in conjunction with Pellegrini’s every growing knowledge and football philosophy, Manchester City will develop a tactical superiority over its rivals.

Txiki Begiristain, the sporting director, who was formerly affiliated with the Blaugrana, is trying to instill Barcelona’s infamous 4-3-3 formation into the 1st team and all the youth sides.

However, before this can be achieved, Pellegrini will be expected to use his own favoured tactics. For much of his career, the tactician has favoured the 4-2-2-2 formation instead of a balanced 4-4-2. His used this to great effect whilst at Spanish club Villarreal where he combined South American authenticity with European efficiency, which led to many admiring that attractive brand of football played.

At Malaga, he showed tactical flexibility by switching through numerous formations. At times he favoured the 4-3-1-2 formation which allowed creative hub Isco to weave his magic in the middle of the pitch. However he used the 4-2-3-1 formation to devastating effect. He was able to inject stability throughout the team. He utilized attacking firepower without risking their defensive solidity, highlighted by their 4-0 thrashing against Valencia last November.

He did choose a conservative 4-2-2 approach throughout the Champions League campaign en-route to the semi-finals. However, stability will hold the key, and unless he is forced into a 4-3-3 formation, his 4-2-2-2 or 4-2-3-1 formation will be used constantly.

The Citizens in the past have confronted Europe’s top trainers but none can boast of a reputation higher than the ‘Engineer’. Pellegrini – a masterclass tactician – will definitely bring the club much-needed success. His previous fruitful relationships with fans should fill ‘ultras’ with much hope. All in all, City could not have asked for a better coach.

Follow Cronan on Twitter: @CrowzarY

While we’re less one than year away from the first match of FIFA World Cup 2014, the FIFA Confederations Cup starts tomorrow. The tournament, which is a dry-run for the World Cup, features eight teams from around the world competing over two weeks. The teams competing are Brazil, Spain, Nigeria, Mexico, Italy, Japan, Uruguay and Tahiti.

The eight teams represent every confederation, hence the name of the tournament.

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Teams:

Here’s a closer look at the teams that are battling to win the trophy:

Brazil (ranked 22nd) – Playing host nation this time around, the Samba boys will be playing in their own backyard with the most fanatical of football fans behind their back. Felipe Scolari’s troops have won the last two editions of the competition in 2005 and 2009. However with Brazil recently dropping out of the top 10 in FIFA rankings, the normally brilliant side will go into the competition without the ‘favorites’ tag. But with confidence brewing, it would be foolish to rule out any hope for the Brazilians in claiming the title for the 3rd consecutive installment.

Mexico (ranked 17th) – Simply a team that should by no means be underestimated. The Pumas qualified after prevailing against a highly fancied USA side in 2011 Gold Cup, and with their talented crop of players, a magical run may be on the cards despite a very poor performance in the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers.

Italy (ranked 8th) – Boasting an outfit with a mixture of youthfulness and experience, Italy will prove to be one of the frontrunners in this years competition. Despite a humiliating early exit from the World Cup in 2010, Italy pounced back two years later as they shocked Germany en-route to the European Championships final where they lost to eventual champions Spain. Their resurgence is not over yet and this is the ideal stage to prove their skeptics wrong.

Japan (ranked 32nd) – Despite becoming the first nation to qualify for the World Cup, the Samurai Blues head into this year’s competition as ‘underdogs’. However ever since Alberto Zaccheroni was appointed as coach, the AFC Asian Champions have played 32 matches consisting of 23 wins, nine draws and five defeats.

Spain (ranked 1st) – Undoubtedly favorites heading into the upcoming tournament, they are the current World and European Champions. However if their lacklustre performances of late have been a cause for concern for many Spaniards. Nevertheless, with the team comprised mostly of Barcelona players, and with the side playing under the ‘tiki taka’ philosophy, it’s hard to see anyone standing a chance against them as La Roja look to secure the only international trophy that has eluded them up until this point.

Uruguay (ranked 19th) – The 2011 Copa America winners come into this competition with a chance of coming out with silverware. Boasting an attacking force comprised of the controversial Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani and Diego Forlan, this side may prove too tough to contain as they look to continue their good form heading into the World Cup.

Tahiti (ranked 138th) – The OFC Nations Cup winners head into the competition as complete underdogs. Not much is expected of them, however the fact that they made it to this competition itself is already an achievement worth praising and a decent outcome from this tournament will definitely put this nation on the footballing map.

Nigeria (ranked 31) – Surprises are not a foreign aspect when it comes to Nigerian football. Their recent Africa Cup of Nations triumph was enough to even surprise themselves, and who know, maybe they could spring a few surprises against the World’s top teams this summer.

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Venues:

Despite security concerns with most of the venues, it has been confirmed that six stadiums will be used to host this summer’s competition.

These stadiums are fashioned in a typical South American style and the fanatical football fans will definitely provide an insight into the party-like atmosphere that will take hold of the country during next summer’s World Cup.

The stadiums are:

Brasilia — Estadio Nacional. Capacity: 71,000

Belo Horizonte — Estadio Mineirao. Capacity: 62,500

Fortaleza — Estadio Castelao. Capacity: 64,800

Recife — Estadio Pernambuco. Capacity: 46,000

Salvador — Arena Fonte Nova.Capacity: 55,000

And last but not least, the infamous…

Rio de Janeiro — Maracana. Capacity: 77,000

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Players to watch:

Juan Mata- Spain

His game time may be limited with Xavi, Iniesta and Fabregas all above him in terms of selection order, but the time he gets on the pitch may be vital since he’s such a game changer for club and country.

Edinson Cavani- Uruguay

He is an absolute goal machine. With widespread interest in the player, there is no doubt potential suitors such as Real Madrid and Manchester City will be keeping a close eye on this lad’s performances.

Shinji Kagawa- Japan

He didn’t produce his best football for Manchester United last season due to injury problems. However he has proven to be deadly when fully fit. His recent exploits against Australia in their crucial World Cup qualifier proved that he is, simply put, a world-class player. His combination with Keisuke Honda has particularly proven lethal.

Neymar- Brazil

Barcelona’s newest acquisition will be the focal point of media scrutiny throughout the competition. Despite his undoubted talent and skill, he has been out-of-form of late and this competition may prove to be a catalyst needed in getting himself in form again. Not to mention, a tournament from which he will gain vital experience.

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Groups:

Group A

Brazil
Japan
Mexico
Italy

Group B 

Spain
Uruguay
Tahiti
Nigeria

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Where to watch the Confederations Cup

Confederations Cup TV and Internet schedule for viewers in United States
ESPN’s coverage plans for 2013 Confederations Cup
Schedule of ESPN’s commentators and co-commentators for Confederations Cup

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Matches to watch (Group Stage):

Japan vs Brazil (Saturday, June 15, 2:30pm, ESPN/WatchESPN)

Brazil are undoubtedly favorites heading into this match. Boasting the likes of Neymar, Oscar and Hulk, Scolari’s side have what it takes to be crowned champions. Despite youthfulness, the side evidently lack experience with only three players left over from 2010 World Cup in Dani Alves, Julio Cesar and Thiago Silva. The side still don’t seem to be playing on the same wavelength and a sense of unity needs to be instilled into the player’s mindset. Their recent run of poor form is a worrying sign. However their 3-0 win against France was a timely confidence booster.

Japan go into this match having already secured a ticket to next year’s World Cup. The Japanese side can boast a wealth of experience, an advantage which Brazil themselves lack. The combination play down the middle of the pitch between Honda and Kagawa has proven lethal and their quick counter attacks have the ability in catching the Selecao off guard.

Nevertheless, an enticing match lies ahead. Brazil have fallen to their lowest point since the inception of FIFA ranking, while Japan will enter this match with confidence. Don’t be surprised if the Asian powerhouses progress past the group stage.

Uruguay vs Spain (Sunday, June 16, 5:45pm, ESPN/WatchESPN)

This opening match for both sides may prove vital as they look to progress to the elimination round. On one hand, Spain are World and European champions. On the other, you have a talented Uruguayan side who finished fourth in 2010 World Cup and won the 2011 Copa America.

Uruguay boast a formidable attacking line-up in Suarez, Cavani and Forlan, whilst Spain have been rocked by Xabi Alonso’s injury and also have been unable to find an ‘ideal striker’.

Nevertheless it will be an intense tactical battle. Spain will most likely dominate possession and it will be important that Uruguay play a defensive style of football capable of blocking out Spain’s attacking attempts and frustrating La Roja. However it is equally as important that Uruguay play quick counter attacks that are capable of catching Spain’s defense off guard, as so many teams have done in the past.

Spain will need to be patient in attack. Chances will definitely come, and it is crucial that the chances they are presented with are made full use of.

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Follow Crpnan on Twitter: @CrowzarY