Record World Cup costs put Qatar in losing game

Record World Cup costs put Qatar in losing game

 

[caption id="attachment_16557" align="alignnone" width="400"] (Secretary-General Hassan Al-Thawadi (3rd L) of Qatar's Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, the nation's 2022 World Cup organising committee, speaks during a news conference to announce the start of work on the Al-Khor Stadium in Al-Khor June 21, 2014. (Reuters))[/caption]

 

They call football the beautiful game – but hosting the World Cup is not exactly a pretty prospect when it comes to a nation’s economy.

 

Brazil stumped up more than $11.5 billion to host this year’s FIFA tournament, with some estimates putting the figure closer to $14 billion.

 

But the country’s economy – just like its national team – has seen only limited success.

 

Brazil will get a maximum uptick in gross domestic product of just 0.2 percentage points in 2014 – if it is lucky – but this will be cancelled out by greater inflation, according to credit insurance firm Euler Hermes.

 

When it comes to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the numbers are in a completely different league.

 

The cost of building stadiums and hotels in the tiny Gulf state is forecast at $16 billion.

 

But due to a relative lack of facilities, the additional infrastructure required could push total costs to an astonishing $200 billion.

 

That’s 50 times what South Africa spent in preparing to host the 2010 tournament, and 10 times what Russia has earmarked for 2018.

 

‘Loss-making venture’

 

Needless to say, Qatar has very little chance of turning a profit in its controversial plan to host the 2022 World Cup, according to commentators.

 

James Dorsey, author of a blog and related book entitled The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer, says making money is just a “secondary driver” for Qatar.

 

“It’s not about economic viability for Qatar,” he said.

 

“The 2022 World Cup is likely to [be] in narrow commercial terms a loss-making venture for Qatar, but then the primary gains it is seeking are primarily non-commercial.”

 

The organizing committee of the Qatar World Cup did not respond to requests for comment.

 

Qatar can certainly afford to spend more than recent World Cup hosts.

 

With the average income topping $100,000, the Gulf state ranks as the world’s richest country per capita.

 

“Qatar as a rich country can get over an investment like the World Cup,” said German sports consultant Dr Peter Rohlmann of PR Marketing.

 

“The huge economical and financial power of Qatar cannot be compared to countries like Brazil or South Africa.”

 

With money not an object, Qatar has other aims in hosting the competition.

 

International relations is the key motivation for hosting the tournament, Dorsey said.

 

“Qatar’s sponsorship is not primarily about economics, it’s about soft power as a defense and security strategy,” he said.

 

Broader PR and tourism goals may also play a part, according to Rohlmann.

 

“Awareness and reputation to the global audience and may be a little push to the tourism industry,” he said.

 

Megaprojects

 

Yet while Qatar’s bill for hosting the World Cup looks almost otherworldly, the breakdown of costs points to its wider aims of economic diversification.

 

Early estimates of the total spending stood at about $65 billion, but according to Deloitte the total bill in preparing for the World Cup could reach $200 billion.

 

Yet just a fraction of this is for direct costs relating to the World Cup, with the majority being allocated to projects that may go ahead independently of the football competition.

 

Qatar’s World Cup bid cited several ‘megaprojects’ including the construction of transport routes and entire cities, many of which will probably end up be built regardless of whether Qatar actually hosts the competition.

 

“The World Cup… sets deadlines for the completion of infrastructure much of which was on the books irrespective of the awarding of the World Cup,” said Dorsey.

 

Some have called for Qatar to be stripped of the right to host the World Cup, due to corruption allegations surrounding its bid and the poor working conditions for workers.

 

The corruption allegations center on the Qatari former member of FIFA's executive committee, Mohamed bin Hammam, who allegedly operated a slush fund to make payments in exchange for votes for his country.

 

Qatar’s World Cup organizing committee has denied any wrongdoing.

 

According to Jean-Michel Saliba of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, the impact of Qatar losing the World Cup would amount to about $16 billion – the amount earmarked for stadiums and hotels – and have “negative equity implications.”

 

The broader, much more expensive pipeline of infrastructure projects “could face delays” if Qatar loses the rights to host the competition, but will probably still happen, Saliba added.

 

“This pipeline would likely lose execution focus and face potential delays, in case Qatar is stripped from hosting the World Cup.

 

A breakdown of the ongoing and planned projects nevertheless suggests the pipeline would eventually proceed forward in some shape or form,” Saliba wrote in a research note.

 

Such megaprojects include the massive Lusail City development, valued at $45 billion, and rail network worth $15 billion, as well as a metro system scheduled for delivery after the World Cup.

 

Lessons from Brazil

 

With such vast sums of money at stake, Qatar is looking to Brazil for lessons.

 

The World Cup organizing committee, which goes by the rather grandiose name ‘Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy’ – reportedly sent 140 observers to Brazil to learn from the event.

 

Delegates included representatives of construction firms, utility services and security forces, according to media reports.

 

Dorsey said such an exercise is valuable, but pointed out that Brazil and Qatar are very different places.

 

“There are more contrasts in political, social and economic terms than similarities… As a result, most lessons to be learnt from the Brazilian experience are in many ways less relevant to Qatar,” he said.

 

“Perhaps the most can be learnt is on the narrow technical issues of delivering infrastructure in timely and proper passion. Another lesson is that host countries run reputational risk from the moment a World Cup is awarded. That is evident in both the Brazilian case with the problems of delivery and the protests and in Qatar with the question marks about the integrity of its bid and the labor issue.”

 

Big events don’t pay

 

One lesson that Qatar will presumably be less concerned about is the difficulty in getting a solid return-on-investment from hosting big events.

 

Sports extravaganzas like the Olympics and World Cup typically cost host nations billions to stage, and always – always – go over budget.

 

The previous World Cup in South Africa resulted in a massive shortfall, for example, with a reported return of just one-tenth on the $4bn it cost to put on.

 

Many fear the World Cup in Brazil will have a similarly poor return on investment.

 

There have been several street protests over the high costs, with many skeptical of government claims that the tournament would boost the economy by $13.6bn, with 1 million new jobs.

 

The São Paulo Federation of Commerce estimated that the lost output as a result of the competition could reach $14 billion – about as much as it cost in the first place, according to the Economist.

 

And a poll by the Pew Research Center found that 61 percent of respondents felt hosting the World Cup would be a bad thing for Brazil.

 

Moody’s Investors Service, meanwhile, said the tournament in Brazil will have a negligible effect on Brazil’s fragile economy.

 

“Some hope hosting the World Cup will help lift Brazil out of economic slowdown, but the associated economic activity ultimately pales before the country’s $2.2 trillion economy,” said Barbara Mattos, a senior analyst at Moody’s, in March.

 

“The 32-day event will provide short-lived sales increases that are unlikely to materially affect earnings and disruptions associated with traffic, crowding and lost work days will take a toll on business,” she added.

 

But with Qatar, questions over the business impact of the World Cup are taking a back seat.

 

By the end of this month, a FIFA committee is due to report back on corruption allegations surrounding the Gulf state’s bid to host the World Cup.

 

For Qatar, any success in the World Cup currently hinges on ethics, rather than economics.

 

(By Ben Flanagan | Al Arabiya News, London)

 

(Al Arabiya News, 16 Wednesday July 2014 The Roman)

 

Back to reality for Brazil after World Cup blues

Back to reality for Brazil after World Cup blues

 

Its World Cup is over, the national team was humiliated and now it's back to harsh reality for Brazil: A slowing economy and presidential elections in October.

 

Brazil had hoped to land a record-extending sixth title in front of home fans.

 

Instead, it was forced to cheer for Germany to defeat rival Argentina in the final -- despite the Selecao's 7-1 defeat to the Europeans in the semi-finals.

 

While Brazilians were bitterly disappointed by their team's fourth-place finish, observers concluded that the World Cup had been a success on and off the pitch, with a flood of goals and no major incidents or large protests.

 

Now the football-mad country has to get back to normal, daily life.

 

"The mantra here is: Life goes on," political analyst Andre Cesar of Brasilia consultancy Prospective told AFP.

 

"Good football is exciting but it is a game and life is much more than that. Now Brazilians will turn to the economy and high inflation," Cesar said.

 

Although Brazil is still suffering after the team's ignominious Cup exit, the country's inbuilt festive spirit means it will not be down for long.

 

"Brazilians have a very deep capacity for resisting" when things go against them, said clinical psychologist Dalva Frigulha.

 

"I was sad but you still want to party, dance, sing and jump about. Deep down, they know the team was not good," Frigulha told AFP.

 

"Furthermore, Brazilian have a world-beating capacity to adapt" to the situation around them, Frigulha added.

 

"That's good. They lost, they were sad, but this won't leave deep scars. The worst is over and they can go back to their daily lives."

 

- Cup and elections -

 

Cesar said that from Monday, Brazil "gets back to normal and can focus on local issues and personalities."

 

"Next stop, the October elections," when leftist President Dilma Rousseff, the frontrunner in opinion polls, will be seeking re-election, said Cesar.

 

Rousseff enjoys a healthy lead over her rivals with the latest poll giving her 38 percent of voter support, compared to 20 percent for Social Democratic Senator Aecio Neves and nine percent for socialist former governor Eduardo Campos.

 

"Come the end of July, we will have other fish to fry -- the focus of discussions will shift to other debates," Cesar added.

 

The national team's terrible tournament may not affect Rousseff in the elections, which coincide with World Cup years in Brazil.

 

In 1998, when Brazil slumped 3-0 in the final to France, Fernando Henrique Cardoso was re-elected.

 

Then in 2002, when Brazil won their most recent title against Germany, Cardoso's ruling party lost to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Rousseff's Workers Party (PT).

 

Lula was then re-elected even through Brazil performed poorly in Germany in 2006.

 

After Brazil was eliminated in the quarter-finals in 2010 in South Africa, Rousseff successfully picked up the baton from Lula.

 

"To link electoral outcomes to football is a kind of wishful thinking. There is no proven link," Cesar said.

 

- The economic problem -

 

In the end, Brazilians are more worried about their pocketbooks than the scoreboard.

 

"I think the biggest risk for Rousseff in this election remains the economy, not the World Cup," said Joao Augusto de Castro Neves, the Latin America director for the Eurasia Group think tank.

 

The economy is set to grow barely 1.0 percent this year, marking a fourth straight year of low growth, according to central bank estimates.

 

Inflation is also on the rise, reaching 6.52 percent over 12 months to June, edging over the official ceiling of 6.5 percent.

 

Ironically, the Cup was a factor in that rise, pushing up the price of accommodations and flights between 12 host cities.

 

"The guy who goes to the supermarket and finds high prices is much more indignant than he is at losing the Cup," Cesar said.

 

Copyright © 2014 AFP. All rights reserved.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 14 Monday July 2014 The Roman)

 

Pope stays above the fray for World Cup final

Pope stays above the fray for World Cup final

 

Football fan His Holiness Pope Francis stayed neutral on Saturday ahead of the World Cup final between his native Argentina and Germany, saying the tournament in Brazil had shown the importance of dialogue between different cultures.

 

"The World Cup allowed people from different countries and religions to come together. May sport always promote the culture of encounter," His Holiness Pope Francis said in tweets in several languages including Latin from his @pontifex account.

 

The Vatican has said Francis "might" watch the match although it has ruled out the possibility that he could sit down with his German predecessor His Holiness Benedict XVI, known to be more fond of theology and piano music than sports.

 

His Holiness Pope Francis, formerly the archbishop of Buenos Aires Jorge Bergoglio, on the other hand has been a fan since childhood and is known to support the San Lorenzo de Almagro club.

 

The Vatican has also joined calls for a ceasefire in wars around the world during the final, invoking the tradition of an Olympic truce which was customary in ancient times to give athletes free passage to take part in the Games.

 

Copyright © 2014 AFP. All rights reserved.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 12 Saturday July 2014 The Roman)

 

A Brazilian with his hands on the Cup

A Brazilian with his hands on the Cup

 

Rio artist Jarbas Meneghini has got his hands on the World Cup in a way that his country could only dream of after their humiliation on the pitch.

 

The 46-year-old mechanic has developed a lucrative sideline making and selling replicas of World Cup trophies.

 

Brazil's 7-1 drubbing by Germany ruined the host country's World Cup.

 

But Meneghini is still enamoured by the tournament.

 

"Unlike Brazil, I've had a good World Cup --- I think I must have sold about 1,000.

 

I'll have another 30-40 in the car boot ready for fans going to the final," he said.

 

The trophies sell for between $15 and $30.

 

"You're nostalgic for the 1970 Brazil team? Well why not buy the Jules Rimet version instead -- I've got that one too," laughed Meneghini, reveling in a pastime which has seen him rub shoulders with football's elite.

 

"Sadly, Brazil are not in the final. But I have been able to hand one of my cups over to (Brazil coach Luiz Felipe) Scolari and also gave one to Neymar -- he signed one for me which I'm keeping.

 

Meneghini, who on the advice of one early purchaser came up with a mould to boost production, said he hoped "our brothers, our friends" Argentina beat Germany to get the real trophy on Sunday.

 

"The Argentinians share our passion for football, The Germans are admirable but I am cheering for Leo Messi, who is such a fantastic footballer."

 

Meneghini was moved to start his hobby in 1994 when he saw Brazilian skipper Dunga lift the Cup in the United States after beating Italy in the final.

 

As fans rush to buy his plaster and gold-painted creations, other fans of World Cup art prefer the rather more classic, two-dimensional fare of Luiz Rocha.

 

Rocha, a 31-year-old who studied visual arts at Rio's Bennett Institute, paints tableaux of match scenes -- either on canvas or the mugs which hold fans' beer at the stadiums.

 

Inspired by modernist Brazilian artists Rubens Gerchman and Helio Oiticica, Rocha's paintings of Neymar goals in particular have been a hit in souvenir stores in Rio's Santa Teresa district.

 

"I look to live art in the intensity of the moment, transmitting the emotion from my heart onto canvas," said Rocha, who paints in a bedroom just a street away from the Maracana stadium.

 

Copyright © 2014 AFP. All rights reserved.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 12 Saturday July 2014 The Roman)

 

'Nothing will be the same again', admits Scolari

'Nothing will be the same again', admits Scolari

 

Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari admitted that a traumatic last six weeks both on and off the field will mark him for the rest of his life.

 

"Lots of things have changed and have impacted on my life for better or for worse. In the coming days I will try to get on with my life, that I have left behind a little bit in recent days," said Scolari ahead of Saturday's World Cup third-place play-off against the Netherlands in Brasilia.

 

"I will talk a bit with my family about everything that happened and get on with my life as normal, although of course it will not be the same.

 

"Nothing will be the same as it was before the squad got together," he added.

 

Brazil's World Cup dream was left in tatters when they suffered a record 7-1 defeat to Germany in Tuesday's semi-final in Belo Horizonte, with Scolari labelling that day as the worst of his life.

 

But he has experienced tragedy off the field too.

 

Just days before Brazil's first World Cup match last month, he discovered that his nephew had been killed in a car crash.

 

That came just weeks after his brother-in-law died in similar circumstances.

 

Scolari's contract as Brazil coach will run out after Saturday's match, although there have been suggestions that the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) might ask him to stay on until the end of the year.

 

"My job began and ends with the World Cup. Tomorrow (Saturday) brings this phase to a close," he said at a press conference at the Mane Garrincha National Stadium.

 

"After that we will look at what I did right and wrong. In about a year and a half there have been a lot of very good things - we can't only look to the result of one match.

 

"We can't say the whole job was badly done because of one result," added Scolari, who said that he had not had any discussions regarding his future with current CBF president Jose Maria Marin or the incoming president Marco Polo.

 

- 'Not the end of the world' -

 

Scolari took over for a second spell as Brazil coach in late 2012, replacing the sacked Mano Menezes.

 

Having led Brazil to glory at the 2002 World Cup in Japan, he hoped to repeat the feat this year on home soil.

 

"The aim was to get to the final and I didn't do it. If we had lost 1-0 instead of 7-1 it would not have been catastrophic but we would have lost all the same.

 

"I have a squad that played the Confederations Cup and won and were very good. They are young. Finishing in the top four is not the end of the world," said Scolari, who believes that the majority of his squad will be present at the next tournament in Russia in 2018.

 

And to motivate his side for Saturday's game, he used the example of Germany, who beat his Portugal team 3-1 on home soil in the third-place play-off at the 2006 World Cup with a line-up containing players who have helped them reach the final this time.

 

"We didn't make our dream come true but now we must go after another smaller dream and finish third," he insisted.

 

Copyright © 2014 AFP. All rights reserved.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 12 Saturday July 2014 The Roman)

 

JAPAN: Zaccheroni wary of tenacious Greeks

JAPAN: Zaccheroni wary of tenacious Greeks

 

[caption id="attachment_15761" align="alignnone" width="400"] (© Getty Images)[/caption]

 

Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni implored his team to take their chances against Greece or face an early exit from the FIFA World Cup™.

 

Both Japan and Greece are fighting for their Group C survival following respective defeats to Côte d'Ivoire and Colombia.

 

But after being outmuscled in a second half which saw Côte d'Ivoire strike twice in the space of two minutes, the Blue Samurai face another bruising encounter in Natal's Estadio das Dunas on Thursday.

 

Zaccheroni believes the determined approach which catapulted Greece to a surprise victory at UEFA EURO 2004 will prove a threat to the four-time Asian champions.

 

"Greece have always stood out for their tenacity and the compact nature of their game," Zaccheroni said reporters on Wednesday.

 

"They've built their success on that. They withstand attacks very well, they're difficult opposition and so we have to exploit our opportunities when they come up.

 

"This is a very short tournament, so we all know that if you lose one match it gives you little chance of advancing. But I'm an optimist. Japan have significant potential. Now we're all just waiting to show that potential in our next two matches, starting with tomorrow. It's fundamental we win if we're going to advance."

 

(AFP)

 

(FIFA, 18 Wednesday June 2014 The Roman)

 

Chile beat Australia 3-1 at World Cup

Chile beat Australia 3-1 at World Cup

 

Chile helped pile the pressure on champions Spain after sealing an eventually comfortable 3-1 win over Australia in their World Cup Group B opener in Cuiaba on Friday.

 

Early goals from Alexis Sanchez and Jorge Valdivia put the South Americans in front before Tim Cahill's brilliant header gave the Socceroos a lifeline, only for Jean Beausejour's fine injury-time strike to seal the victory.

 

The result meant Spain have a lot of ground to make up following their 5-1 trouncing by the Netherlands in the earlier Group B match.

 

Copyright © 2014 AFP. All rights reserved.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 14 Saturday June 2014 The Roman)

 

Spain-Netherlands repeat dominates upcoming World Cup games

Spain-Netherlands repeat dominates upcoming World Cup games

 

Defending champions Spain take on the Netherlands in a re-run of the 2010 final that dominates Friday's World Cup games.

 

Australia enter the tournament against South American dark horses Chile in the same Group B battle, while Mexico play Cameroon in Group A.

 

Andres Iniesta's goal was all that separated Spain and the Netherlands on the scoresheet four years ago.

 

But the Dutch, who were given nine of the 14 yellow cards handed out, were much criticised for their negative tactics.

 

Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal admits that Spain may still be playing the better football now, but insists that revenge is still possible.

 

"There is only one way to block the Spanish, you have to defend in a very compact way," van Gaal said on the eve of the game in Salvador.

 

"Then when you get the ball, you have to have a fast, well executed game.

 

"This will not be easy as Spain also defend very well. But I have an iron belief that we can produce something special tomorrow, even if you have to be conscious that Spain play perhaps the best football."

 

Everyone is looking for cracks in the Spanish side that has won two European Championships on the trot as well as the World Cup.

 

Coach Vicente del Bosque says they do not exist.

 

Del Bosque could name a side with only one change from the one that won the 2012 Euro final.

 

He has only one major decision over whether to use Diego Costa or Cesc Fabregas as his main attacker.

 

"We have a mature team and young players. We are not afraid of anything and we are in our prime," he said.

 

Netherlands will be relying on the veteran strike force of Arjen Robben, Robin Van Persie and Wesley Sneijder, who has been rejuvenated by van Gaal.

 

Spain's midfielder Xavi Hernandez acknowledged the threat from the trio but stressed Spain's traditional dominance of possession.

 

"They have three very experienced players up front. They will sit in and then look for very quick counter-attacks. We know Spain will have more of the ball."

 

Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli announced that star midfielder Arturo Vidal is fit to play Australia in Cuiaba in a match that could be as important as Spain-Netherlands.

 

Both of the group favourites know that Sampaoli is waiting to see which one of them makes a slip that he can exploit.

 

But Sampaoli said he will have to overcome a physical challenge from the Socceroos first.

 

"We believe Australia will wait for us and counter. I need my players to be nimble and quick to break through strong defences," he said.

 

Australia are the lowest ranked team at the World Cup finals, 62nd on the FIFA list, but are ready to take on allcomers.

 

"We don't care who we're up against," said Swiss-based attacking midfielder Dario Vidosic.

 

"There can be 11 Ronaldos or Messis out there. We want to make everybody proud back home. We've worked very hard to get to this stage," he added.

 

Mexican coach Miguel Herrera has dropped Manchester United forward Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez to the substitutes' bench for the Group A clash against Cameroon in Natal.

 

Hernandez started only six league games for a struggling Man United side this last season, managing just four goals in 24 appearances, 18 as a substitute, in the Premier League.

 

Herrera has plumped for in-form duo Oribe Peralta and Giovani dos Santos up front.

 

"There is very good chemistry between them," said Herrera.

 

Cameroon, who were embroiled in a bonus row before arriving in Brazil, will be relying on their veteran captain Samuel Eto'o to guide them through the tough group.

 

Copyright © 2014 AFP. All rights reserved.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 13 Friday June 2014 The Roman)

 

JAPAN : Yoshida: I dream of exceeding four years ago

JAPAN : Yoshida: I dream of exceeding four years ago

 

[caption id="attachment_15633" align="alignnone" width="400"] (© Getty Images)[/caption]

 

Since Japan first played at a FIFA World Cup™ at France 1998, the landscape of their team has vastly evolved ahead of what will be their fifth consecutive appearance.

 

Where their side once comprised of entirely players within the nation's borders, now more than half their squad can be found dotted around the globe, playing in some of the world's top leagues.

 

One of this star's plying their trade abroad is Maya Yoshida, who passed through the Dutch Eredivisie on his way to joining Southampton in the English Premier League.

 

The centre-back is now preparing to take his opening bow at the tournament, when the Samurai Blue kick off in their opening game of Brazil 2014 against Côte d'Ivoire.

 

He sat down with FIFA to talk about the impact of foreign-based team-mates, last year's FIFA Confederation Cup and the inspiration he takes after watching South Africa 2010 from home.

 

FIFA TV: Maya, during the 1998 World Cup, no Japanese players were playing in foreign leagues.

 

Now, however, there are 12 players who are playing on abroad.

 

How do you think the Japanese players have changed or developed through playing beyond your own shores?

 

Maya Yoshida: I feel that being able to compete fiercely with world-class players on a daily basis is very important when entering international competitions.

 

Having those experiences is what has changed the most for me.

 

Compared to four years ago, there have been an increase in the number of Japanese players on foreign teams, and I believe that even more players will be playing abroad after the World Cup.

 

Personally, how have you grown through playing in Europe?

 

When I play in Japan, I almost always play with Japanese players.

 

However, playing in England and Holland, I had the chance to play with various players, such as players from England and Holland who are physically strong.

 

By changing my environment, playing with European and South American players, which was quite unusual at first, became a normal thing for me.

 

Playing international matches changed from something that was very special and unusual to something that was very normal.

 

What kind of influence has Alberto Zaccheroni had on your team?

 

I think our coach really understands Japanese people.

 

He helped us to learn how to compete with world-class European teams while still maintaining the Japanese style.

 

How did competing in the Confederation's Cup help you to prepare for the World Cup?

 

Brazil is the host of both the Confederations Cup and the World Cup, and we really got to experience this country, both on and off the pitch.

 

Other than things such as the heat and the environment, we got to experience Brazil in areas outside football such as the food and life inside the hotel.

 

I think the fact that we've experienced this country once already will make a huge difference.

 

Although we didn't get very good results in the Confederation's Cup, I think competing against teams that are said to be the best in the world was a valuable experience for us.

 

The Japanse Football Association's motto is Yume wo Chikara ni (Change your dreams into power).

 

What is your dream for the World Cup?

 

Out of the huge football-playing population in the world, only a handful can play in this competition.

 

Four years ago, I was watching the World Cup on TV at home and longed to be on the pitch.

 

Achieving better results than the previous World Cup squad is my dream.

 

Actually, it is more of a goal than a dream.

 

Is there anything that you recall from back when you were watching the World Cup on TV in your home?

 

Back then, Japan had achieved better results in the competition than people had expected.

 

That was the year that many players I had experience of playing with in Japan showed their talent, such as [Keisuke] Honda and [Eiji] Kawashima.

 

So, the World Cup felt like something that was very close to me.

 

That was when playing in the World Cup changed from an abstract dream to a concrete goal within me.

 

What was a dream four years ago is now changing into a goal, now that I am actually in Brazil.

 

(FIFA, 13 Friday June 2014 The Roman)

 

 

2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil : Brazil 3-1 Croatia

2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil : Brazil 3-1 Croatia

 

BRAZIL 2014 : Brazil-Croatia: Quotes

 

[caption id="attachment_15625" align="alignnone" width="400"] (© Getty Images)[/caption]

 

Luiz Felipe Scolari, Brazil coach

 

The players were fantastic.

 

They kept calm and turned around the Opening Match of the World Cup, which is not easy.

 

The fans deserve an even bigger hand, though.

 

The support here in Sao Paulo was amazing.

 

It was out of this world and people can’t imagine what it was like.

 

There used to be stories about how Sao Paulo doesn’t get behind the national team that much, but you can’t say that any more.

 

Croatia are a very good side.

 

They have the ability to play the ball in behind the defence from the flanks, and they deserve a lot of praise for that.

 

Neymar (BRA), Budweiser Man of the Match

 

I’m very happy, really happy.

 

This is more than I even dreamed about and it’s vital to start a tournament like this with a win.

 

I’m happy with the two goals, but the whole team deserves a pat on the back because we kept cool and came from behind.

 

We’re very strong individually and when we play as a unit we’re very difficult to beat.

 

It’s not down to just one, two or three players: it’s the team as a whole that works.

 

Nico Kovac, Croatia coach

 

I really am very proud of Croatia despite the defeat because I know that we came up against a great team in every sense of the word.

 

We put in a fantastic performance, from the first minute to the last.

 

Brazil were very strong but we deserved at least a point.

 

I’m proud because we showed that we can survive the group phase.

 

(FIFA, 13 Friday 2014 June The Roman)

 

Brazilians betting on World Cup glory

Brazilians betting on World Cup glory

 

A whopping 68 percent of Brazilians believe their team's name is on the World Cup -- and coach Luiz Felipe Scolari is the man to deliver it.

 

With Brazil's tournament opening clash with Croatia looming on Thursday, a survey by polling firm Datafolha underscored the sense of national expectation surrounding Scolari's squad.

 

An overwhelming majority of Brazilians expect the country's players to clinch a sixth World Cup crown next month.

 

Five percent were betting on Germany, while just three percent liked arch-rivals Argentina and reigning champions Spain.

 

The poll also revealed a high level of confidence in Scolari to mastermind the win, with 68 percent rating his performance as great or good.

 

Fourteen percent said it was average and two percent said it was bad or terrible.

 

Sixteen percent did not respond.

 

The rating is better than the 51 percent Scolari had in June 2002, in the middle of the World Cup in Japan -- which Brazil went on to win, its fifth world title.

 

Scolari returned to coach the national team in 2012, replacing Mano Menezes.

 

During the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, then-coach Dunga had a 49-percent approval rating.

 

Brazil were eliminated from that edition of the tournament in the quarter-finals.

 

The World Cup kicks off Thursday in Sao Paulo against a backdrop of strikes, protests and widespread frustration over Brazil's economic slow-down and the more than $11 billion being spent on the tournament.

 

Datafolha said 54 percent of Brazilians believe the Cup will do the country more harm than good, while 36 percent say the opposite.

 

If protests erupt during the World Cup, as they did during last year's Confederations Cup, 65 percent of Brazilians say they will be ashamed, 25 percent say they will be proud and 10 percent say they don't know, the pollster found.

 

Copyright © 2014 AFP. All rights reserved.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 8 Sunday June 2014 The Roman)

 

Brazil 2014: Japan comeback sinks Costa Rica

Brazil 2014: Japan comeback sinks Costa Rica

 

[caption id="attachment_15402" align="alignnone" width="400"] (© Getty Images)[/caption]

 

Manchester United striker Shinji Kagawa scored the go-ahead goal in the 80th minute on Monday as Japan defeated Costa Rica 3-1 in a 2014 FIFA World Cup™ warm-up friendly for both teams.

 

Kagawa stumbled as the ball came to him in the heart of the penalty area but kept his balance and swept a right-footed shot past Costa Rica goalkeeper Keilor Navas to give Japan a 2-1 edge.

 

Yoichiro Kakitani, who came off the bench in the 76th minute, added an insurance goal in stoppage time for Samurai Blue.

 

"It was good that we could come back and win after we fell behind," Kagawa said.

 

"We should have scored a goal in the first half. We had good chances. We need to score first in the World Cup because those are going to be tough matches."

 

Costa Rica captain Bryan Ruiz, a striker for Dutch side PSV, opened the scoring in the 31st minute, outracing Japan defender Yasuyuki Konno to a centering pass and flicking the ball into the back of the net.

 

But Yasuhito Endo, a 34-year-old midfielder for Gamba Osaka who entered to start the second half, equalized for Japan in the 60th minute.

 

Japanese captain Keisuke Honda left-footed a centering pass to the heart of the penalty area, where onrushing Endo - the oldest man on either roster - blasted a shot into the back of the net.

 

"Our condition was good and we played with a positive mentality," Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni said.

 

"For the rest of the time until the World Cup we will focus on improving the players' mentality and on finishing goals. Kagawa and Honda, they played well. They both needed some time to get used to the game but they played well."

 

We had our World Cup rhythm. We were counter-attacking and moving the ball well, a high pressure, a World Cup feel.

Costa Rica coach Jorge Luis Pinto

 

Costa Rica coach Jorge Luis Pinto said the match had World Cup-level intensity.

 

"We had our World Cup rhythm," Pinto said.

 

"We were counter-attacking and moving the ball well, a high pressure, a World Cup feel. We played as intensely as we could."

 

But Zaccheroni said Japan's attacking style paid off at the end by draining the Ticos of energy for the vital final minutes.

 

"We made a lot of chances," he said.

 

"We kept making them run and pass the ball and they got tired and we dominated the game - eventually."

 

After a last tune-up on Friday in Tampa against Zambia, Japan will fly to Brazil on Saturday and open Group C on 14 June against Côte d'Ivoire with later matches against Greece and Colombia.

 

Costa Rica, which plays a final warm-up friendly against Republic of Ireland on Friday at Philadelphia, was drawn into Group D against England, Uruguay and Italy.

 

The Ticos open their World Cup against Uruguay on 14 June.

 

"We were able to create but our middle was exposed and certainly the defence made some bad decisions on the second and third goals," Pinto said.

 

"We made some mistakes. It's a process. Some of our players will look to improve in the next week. "

 

Japan hoped to gain some insight into Colombia by facing a Costa Rican side guided by Colombian Jorge Luis Pinto, who once coached his homeland's squad.

 

Costa Rica sought similar information about Italy from playing against Japan, coached by Italian Alberto Zaccheroni.

 

And both teams hoped to adapt to the heat and humidity of Brazil by playing in similar conditions before 7,106 at the Florida home stadium of American football's Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

 

Costa Rica, reeling from the loss of star scorer Alvaro Saborio to a broken right foot and left back Bryan Oviedo to a broken leg, tested new starters.

 

Joel Campbell, the Olympiacos striker who at 21 was the youngest man on the pitch, got the nod up front while Junior Diaz, a 30-year-old for German side Mainz, received the back line call.

 

Japan open brightly

 

Time and again the Asian champions pressed the attack in the first half only to come away empty.

 

Each team created solid scoring chances early but Ruiz was wide right in the opening seconds, Yoshito Okubo fired high of the goal in the second minute and Yeltsin Tejeda's blast from atop the penalty area was denied by Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima in the third.

 

Yuya Osako nodded a centering pass over the crossbar in the 11th minute and moments later Kagawa evaded defender Michael Umana in the middle but fired a right-footed shot wide.

 

Honda blasted a shot off the right post in the 24th minute and Okubo forced a diving stop by Navas in the 25th.

 

Honda was again thwarted in the 27th minute after evading Navas, who had strayed far from the goal to challenge him.

 

Ticos defender Giancarlo Gonzalez beat Honda to the ball and cleared it from danger before the blonde Japanese star could take aim at the open net.

 

Hotaru Yamaguchi forced another tough save by Navas in the 29th minute and Kagawa yet another in the 41st minute.

 

Kawashima came to the top edge of the area and leaned over the line to head away a danger ball on a Ruiz breakaway in the 44th minute, the Costa Rica star eventually sending a header wide to end the threat.

 

(AFP)

 

(FIFA, 3 Tuesday June 2014 The Roman)

 

14 JUN 2014 - 22:00 Local time GROUP C Arena Pernambuco Recife

CÔTE D'IVOIRE JAPAN 10:00 JST

 

19 JUN 2014 - 19:00 Local time GROUP C Estadio das Dunas Natal

JAPAN GREECE 7:00 JST

 

24 JUN 2014 - 16:00 Local time GROUP C Arena Pantanal Cuiaba

JAPAN COLOMBIA 5:00 JST

 

(AFP)

 

(FIFA, 3 Tuesday June 2014 The Roman)

 

Ligue 1: Un sommet capital pour Monaco et le Paris SG League 1: A crucial summit to Monaco and Paris SG

Ligue 1: Un sommet capital pour Monaco et le Paris SG

 

[caption id="attachment_12146" align="alignnone" width="400"] (Les joueurs du PSG manifestent leur joie après le but de Zlatan Ibrahimovic en demi-finale de la Coupe de la Ligue contre Nantes à la Beaujoire, le 4 mardi février 2014 le Roman (AFP)) (The PSG players express their joy after the goal from Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the semifinals of the League Cup against Nantes Beaujoire, 4 Tuesday February 2014 The Roman (AFP))[/caption]

 

De Keyvan NARAGHI (AFP)

 

Paris — Les deux superpuissances financières de la L1, le leader parisien, emmené par un Ibrahimovic au sommet de son art, et son dauphin monégasque, toujours orphelin de Falcao, ont rendez-vous dimanche au stade Louis-II pour un choc capital dans la lutte pour le titre.

 

Avec 5 points d'avance sur son rival, le PSG des Qataris aborde cette échéance en position de force et pourrait, en cas de succès, assommer le championnat et se diriger inexorablement vers un deuxième sacre d'affilée.

 

Pour l'ASM du milliardaire russe Dmitry Rybolovlev, il s'agira surtout de maintenir le suspense jusqu'au bout.

 

Cette affiche de gala devrait en tout cas devenir un "classique" de la Ligue 1 durant les prochaines saisons, aucune autre formation française n'ayant les moyens économiques de venir perturber le duopole Paris-Monaco.

 

Cette nouvelle rivalité n'en est qu'à ses débuts mais elle a déjà éclipsé la concurrence, obligée de se partager les restes laissés par les deux ogres.

 

Une situation appelée à perdurer.

 

A l'aller (1-1, le 22 septembre au Parc des Princes), le club de la Principauté avait tenu la dragée haute au champion de France mais à l'époque il pouvait compter sur un buteur de dimension mondiale, Falcao.

 

Le "Tigre" colombien, gravement blessé au genou et très incertain pour le Mondial-2014, manquera cette fois à l'appel.

 

Sans Falcao ni Cavani (cuisse) côté parisien, cette rencontre de prestige se voit ainsi délestée de deux des trois plus grosses vedettes du championnat.

 

L'absence du Colombien a pour le moment été assez bien compensée par le duo Germain-Rivière.

 

Mais les deux attaquants auront-ils les épaules assez larges pour inquiéter une défense de niveau européen dirigée par le "Monstre" Thiago Silva, capitaine du Brésil et du PSG ?

 

Pour muscler son secteur offensif, Monaco a fait venir le vétéran bulgare Berbatov (33 ans), transfuge de Fulham, qui devrait théoriquement débuter le match sur le banc.

 

Guerre des mots

 

Sur le papier, le forfait de Cavani a de quoi soulager une arrière-garde monégasque vieillissante.

 

Pas sûr qu'Abidal (34 ans) et Carvalho (35 ans) soient en revanche particulièrement enchantés à l'idée de se frotter au colosse Ibrahimovic, toujours capable de gestes de génie.

 

Meilleur buteur de L1 (18 réalisations), le géant suédois n'en finit pas de multiplier les coups d'éclat.

 

Le souci pour l'entraîneur Laurent Blanc c'est qu'il est bien le seul ces dernières semaines.

 

Lucas et Lavezzi, terriblement inefficaces, sauront-ils épauler Ibra et faire oublier Cavani (13 buts en L1) ?

 

A moins que Blanc ne décide de sacrifier l'Argentin pour gonfler son milieu en incorporant la recrue Cabaye.

 

Un coup de poker tactique n'est pas exclu des deux côtés.

 

La bataille des mots a elle déjà commencé.

 

Le technicien monégasque Claudio Ranieri ne cesse ainsi de répéter depuis une semaine que le championnat est joué et promis au PSG.

 

"Qui fait la course au titre ? Nous ? Non ! Le Paris SG, ce sont des extra-terrestres. Seuls eux peuvent perdre le titre. Et il leur faudrait beaucoup d'erreurs pour le perdre. Parce que, même avec sa deuxième équipe, le PSG gagnerait le titre", a-t-il encore déclaré vendredi.

 

Un argumentaire balayé avec le sourire par Blanc.

 

"S'il veut, on ne joue pas le match", a-t-il répondu alors que le milieu de terrain Matuidi a parlé de coup de "bluff".

 

Pas de doute pour Laurent Blanc: la pression est bel et bien sur Monaco malgré ces tentatives de diversion.

 

Toute la question est en fait de savoir si l'ASM, promue "dopée" par les 170 millions d'euros investis l'été dernier dans le recrutement, peut se hisser dès cette saison au niveau du PSG ou si elle devra attendre la saison prochaine pour réellement le titiller.

 

Copyright © AFP 2014. Tous droits réservés.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 10 lundi février 2014 le Roman)

 

 

League 1: A crucial summit to Monaco and Paris SG

 

Keyvan NARAGHI (AFP)

 

Paris - The two financial superpowers L1, the Parisian leader, led by Ibrahimovic at the top of his art, and his Monegasque dolphin, always orphan Falcao have appointment Sunday to Louis II stadium for a shock in the capital fight for the title.

 

With 5 points ahead of his rival, PSG Qataris addresses this term in a strong position and could, if successful, knock the championship and move inexorably towards a second consecutive coronation.

 

ASM for the Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev, the emphasis will be to maintain the suspense until the end.

 

This poster gala should in any case become a "classic" in the Ligue 1 next season, no other French training having the economic means to disrupt the duopoly Paris - Monaco.

 

This new competition is still in its infancy, but it has already eclipsed the competition, forced to share the leftovers from both ogres.

 

A situation set to continue.

 

In the first leg (1-1, Sept. 22 at the Parc des Princes), Club Monaco had held a candle to the champion of France but at the time he could count on a global scorer Falcao.

 

The "Tiger" Colombian serious knee injury and a major doubt for the World Cup 2014, this time missed the call.

 

Without Falcao or Cavani (thigh) Parisian side, the meeting of prestige is thus relieved two of the three biggest stars of the championship.

 

The absence of the Colombian has been time well enough compensated by the duo - Germain River.

 

But the two attackers will they pretty broad shoulders to worry a defense of European level led by the "Monster" Thiago Silva, captain of Brazil and PSG ?

 

To beef up its offensive sector Monaco brought the veteran Bulgarian Berbatov (33), defector from Fulham, which should theoretically start the match on the bench.

 

War of words

 

On paper, the package Cavani has something to relieve a rearguard Monaco aging.

 

Not sure qu'Abidal  (34) and Carvalho (35) are however particularly thrilled with the idea of ​​rubbing the colossus Ibrahimovic still capable of acts of genius.

 

Scorer L1 (18 goals), the Swedish giant never stops multiply strokes of brilliance.

 

Concern for coach Laurent Blanc is that it is only in recent weeks.

 

Lucas and Lavezzi , terribly inefficient, will they support Ibra and forget Cavani (13 goals in L1) ?

 

Unless White decides to sacrifice Argentina to inflate its environment by incorporating rookie Cabaye.

 

A favorite tactic poker is not excluded from both sides.

 

The battle of words has already started it.

 

Monaco technician Claudio Ranieri and keeps repeating week that the championship is played and promised to PSG.

 

"Who does the title race ? We ? No! Paris SG, they are aliens. Only they can lose the title. And it would take a lot of mistakes to lose. Because even with his second team, PSG win the title," he said again Friday.

 

An argument with a smile swept by White.

 

"If he wants, we do not play the game," he replied while midfielder Matuidi spoke kick "bluff ".

 

No doubt Laurent Blanc : the pressure is well and truly on Monaco despite these attempts at diversion.

 

The whole question is whether the ASM promoted "doped" by 170 million euros invested last summer in recruitment, can climb from this season at PSG or if it will wait until the season next to really tickle.

 

Copyright © 2014 AFP. All rights reserved.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 10 Monday February 2014 The Roman)

(Text Translated: R.S.F. toshiki speed news press, Agence France-Presse, 10 Monday February 2014 The Roman)