SoccerNews Issue #2, June 07th 2016

Continental/Division Tires Buettnerstraße 25 | 30165 Hannover Self-confidence in France: Harry Kane and the Alexander Bahlmann Phone: +49 511 938 2615 England national team have made it into the Head of Communications & E-Mail: [email protected] extended circle of favourites for the European Public Relations PLT www.contisoccerworld.de Championship. Photo: Imago SoccerNews # 2/2016 2

that for the first time 24 teams are taking part, and 16 will qualify for the knock-out stage.

The European elite return to France, 18 years after the fantastic 1998 World Cup finals. “La Grande Nation” once again hosts a major event – and is hoping that the title will remain with them, just as at the two previous tourna- Europe’s crown is beckoning every four years: Cesc ments on home soil. At the 1984 Europeans Fabregas (right) and the Spanish national team are the “Équipe Tricolore” triumphed as they did ready for a title hat-trick. Photo: Imago at the 1998 World Cup. This admirable feat is unrivaled. France are the last nation to win a European Championship at home, and the last to triumph similarly in the World Cup.

The road to the final on July 10, however, is as long as never before at a European Champion- ship. For the first time in history 24 teams are competing in the finals, with the first and sec- Not to be stopped: Belgium and top star want to win the European title. Photo: Imago ond-placed teams of the six preliminary round groups, as well as the four best third-placed News teams, qualifying for the round of 16. An exten- Paul Pogba wants to prevent Germany, winning their sion of the hosts record is not impossible, just next title at the European Championship in France the contrary. For many experts France, with Foto: Imago Hot favourites France hope for stars Paul Pogba (Juventus Turin) and Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), are the hottest champs talked about the ultimate – and favourites for the European title, with the team the requirements for reaching it: “The defence third triumph at third tournament consistently progressing over the past few is important but it is essential to score one years. goal more than your opponent in order to win at home a tournament”. The reason for this statement France have slight problems in defence was emerging criticism due to a flagging de- Getting through in preliminary Group A, fence. Though France were successful in all The hosts want to win their third title at home after 1984 and 1998, but against competitors Romania, Switzerland and three friendly tests against the Netherlands they have problems in defence. Germany will confidently start their Albania, is of course obligatory for the hosts. (3-2), Russia (4-2) and Cameroon (3-2) they National coach knows conceded two goals in each match. “There is mission to win the European Championship after the World Cup title. the expectations for him and his team: Only something wrong with France’s defence”, read In addition Spain, England and Belgium are considered to have a good the title is considered a success. A few days the headline of “Le Monde”, due the defenders prior to the opening match against Romania Mamadou Sakho (Liverpool), Lassana Diarra chance. But the former European heavyweight Italy are quite happy on June 10, 1998 World Cup champion Des- (Marseille), Jérémy Mathieu (FC Barcelona) and SoccerNews # 2/2016 3

Raphael Varane (Real Madrid) dropping put injured. But then a Spain want the hat-trick 3-0 victory over Scotland followed last Saturday, with spectacu- News In Spain high spirits and anticipation reign lar attacking and good defensive performances. for the group encounters with Croatia, Czech Republic and Turkey, with the entire nation Germany confident even without Reus hoping for a historic title hat-trick after the Eu- France is not the only nation suffering from injury problems, ropean Championship triumphs in 2008 and however, prior to the kick-off of the tournament taking place 2012. Coach knows how to in ten cities. Reigning World Cup champions Germany have to celebrate great successes and may rely on a make do without ’s top star – as well as team in good shape. The Spaniards convinced his Dortmund team-mate Ilkay Guendogan, who is moving to during their 3-1 in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Manchester City. But prior to the first-round encounters against 6-1 against South Korea – despite the players of Ukraine, Poland and Northern Ireland national coach Joachim Champions League finalists Real and Atlético Loew is quite confident they can celebrate the European title af- Madrid being absent. ter the World Cup – although his team recently recorded rather moderate results. Defeats by England (3-2) and Slovakia (3-1), but Shooting stars excite England a brilliant 4-1 win over Italy. The 2-0 against Hungary as a final Spain can ill afford a slip-up in the first round dress rehearsal at Gelsenkirchen wasn’t a sparkler, but coach because that could mean they could meet Loew was quite contented, stating that everything was running England, one of the favourites for the first according to schedule. For the German national team the hotel Ermitage at Evian-les-Bains is the starting point time for years, as early as the round of 16. The of a Tour de France at the 2016 European Championship. Photo: Imago “Three Lions” meet Russia, Wales and Slovakia Belgium are hoping for De Bruyne, Italy for a miracle in the first round – and are the top candidates Confidence is limited at the former European giants Italy. In “La Team” at the spa The DFB and Bierhoff were more for winning Group B. After years of sporting de- their tough Group E the 1968 European champions are not Evian-les-Bains. The location with modest for the 2016 European cline the fans are thirsty for a successful tour- even favourites for the top position – that goes to world ranked views over Lake Geneva is gor- Championship. A four-star hotel – nament. Another embarrassing failure does not number two Belgium who are sending a team to France consist- geous, the 19 hectare large park not the best by far at Evian – was look likely, with England sending a young, fresh ing almost invariably of players from Europe’s top teams. The resplendent, the fitness and well- rented. team to France. Captain Wayne Rooney con- ensemble around super star Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) ness centre fantastic. The hotel siders a highlight for his international career is even considered by some to have the best chance of winning Ermitage at the spa Evian-les-Bains The Ermitage can be well shielded is possible: “This is the best team I have ever the Coupe Henri Delaunay, created by Arthur Bertrand in will be the base camp for the Ger- due to the large park around the played in”. New stars such as 18-year-old attack- in 1960. man national team for the next four multi- floor apartment building – er Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), the weeks. “We have once again found seems logical when the name trans- ’s top goalscorer Harry Kane It is rather unlikely that Italy will raise the winning trophy towards something ideal. The distances are lates as hermitage. It is even more (Tottenham) and England‘s “Player of the Year” the Paris sky. Reaching the knock-out stage is the Italians’ min- short, we can close ranks, we shall peaceful than in the quiet 8,000-in- Jamie Vardy, of surprise champions Leicester imum goal, but facing tough opponents Sweden and Ireland be comfortable in that house”, says habited town with the world-famous City, offer a departure into a new football era makes qualifying for the round of 16 not a certainty – even in team manager . Two name. The expensive mineral water for coach Roy Hodgson’s team, which has ap- Italy. It hasn’t improved the mood that years ago in Brazil he had a German in the light-blue shimmering bottle peared a bit long in the tooth of late. Their last (Paris) can’t play and no successor has been found so far for na- village built at the isolated village with pink lettering, Evian is a world- friendly was successful with England defeating tional coach Antonio Conte, who will move to Chelsea FC after Santo Andre. Afterwards hardly any wide bestseller. It has been officially , the favourites in Group F (with Aus- the European Championship. guests visited the “Campo Bahia”, bottled in the town since 1826. tria, Iceland and Hungary), 1-0. but it was the starting point for the title triumph for the German team. SoccerNews # 2/2016 4

of the European Championship”, he disclosed the left with and Bayern . before leaving for home. Benedikt Hoewedes, injured until shortly be- fore the end of the season, was allowed to get A plus point he recorded during the friendly some practice on the right of defence. “There was ’s comeback, after a is room for improvement. I certainly won’t 75-day injury break, when the captain replaced become a Dani Alves, but I am ready to take in the final stages. “Playing 25 to over any position”, said the Schalke player, who 30 minutes is quite all-right. But 90 minutes brilliantly filled in the left defensive gap during in my first match back doesn’t work“, said the World Cup. Loew may prefer the young Schweinsteiger. He kept up quite well with the Munich player at right back slow rhythm of the last 15 minutes. He will be a against Ukraine. substitute at the start of the European Cham- pionship. played on the attacking wide left but failed to fully convince. Draxler benefits What Loew isn’t bothered about is the search from Andre Schuerrle still experiencing poor for a regular European Championship eleven. form at Wolfsburg, and that “I don’t want to name an ideal team”, he em- is only needed when his enormous shooting phasized. “I do like to keep an open mind”. power could eventually turn a match around Loew wants total flexibility regarding players in the final 15 minutes. Leroy Sane is a possi- and tactics. “The tournament will be tough, bility as left winger as well as Mario Goetze, if it will be energy-sapping”, Loew warned. Ac- Loew doesn’t want to play him as a “false nine”. The German team against Hungary (2-0): Neuer, Hoewedes, Ruediger, Hector, Kroos, Khedira, Boateng cording to his analysis, seven matches in four Mario Gomez as a true, strong in the air centre (above from left), Draxler, Goetze, Mueller, Oezil (below). Photo: Getty Images weeks require taking the tournament step by forward, or Goetze as a “magic-cap striker” in step. “It is good if you don’t always play with the centre? Loew will have changing answers the same team“, Loew disclosed. He visualizes to that question during the Europeans. For News the liveliness and dynamics were missing”, said various variations. Naturally he has a skeleton many former German national coaches a fixed national coach Loew, apologising for the far team he relies on. tournament eleven seemed to be a dogma, but Loew loves puzzles: Turnover of from exhilarating performance after eleven Loew rather enjoys the jigsaw puzzle. hard training days at Ascona. In front of central defender players instead of regular team Boateng is currently the key defender, with The 56-year-old had given the unusual order Antonio Rüdiger as long as is The German international players put on a to slow the match down in the second half. still missing. The and spurt despite heavy legs at the end. They left “Our opponents needed to do more”, Jerome Toni Kroos are among Loew’s key players, as Schalke Arena at the double in order to enjoy Boateng explained away the slow marching are the offensive players Thomas Mueller and the rest of two days off at home. The pace had order. “We know what we still have to do in the Mesut Özil. These are six planets which should dropped to almost zero, particularly in the sec- remaining training days in France”, said Loew, be variably complemented by fixed stars. Jonas ond half, during the 2-0 (1-0) win over Hungary who was quite content overall. Eight matches Hector as left defender is closest to a regular in the European Championship dress rehearsal in a row and during an entire year his team place as there are few alternatives. But the Co- match. It was totally atypical of the World Cup had always conceded at least one goal. “It was logne player has weaknesses which even the champions as well as coach Joachim Loew, but important not to concede a goal once again”, Hungarians revealed. That’s why Loew once it happened on purpose. “The team weren’t Loew said. “The victory gives us stability and a again tested in the second half, a Bastian Schweinsteiger is fighting for his fitness. fresh, we have trained intensively. That’s why good feeling for the last week before the start right-footed player who has already helped on Photo: Imago SoccerNews # 2/2016 5

ALLEZ BOOM!

Stick up for your team!

Your author does his best to explain the im- pact of the EUROs by drawing a comparison with a jellyfish. And in a world exclusive, he’s offering free cut-out Freddini© stickers to col- lect. Don’t forget to download the scissors…

By Freddy Boom

Ah, dear readers, it’s so good to see you draped over the chaises longues in the SoccerNews PDF download lounge again. I think I’ll have another of those rainbow colored happy-hour cocktails with the paper parasols. You too? Garçon! Pardon my French, but on the subject of France, let me just whisper in your ear that these will likely be the last lines I type while in possession of all my faculties, because from Friday onwards I’ll be back “in the zone”. With my brain revolving like a sliced free kick from Cris- tiano R. I’ll be swept along by a four-week rip tide of never-ending soccer news. Caught up by powers beyond my control, I’ll be as helpless as a jellyfish in the North Sea, made up of 99% water SoccerNews world exclusive: Freddini© cut-out stickers. Photo: Boom (plus maybe hops and malt in my case) and unable to resist the constant to-and-fro rhythm of the waves. My days will be defined by kick offs and final whistles, as I’m forced to work from an un- Over recent months, a British mathematician has dedicated end- anyone should spend good money on photos of, for example, a earthly 4:30 a.m. so as to knock off at 2 p.m. rush home and turn less hours to the analysis of a peripheral pursuit related to the man with a truly dreadful haircut called Birkir Bjarnason, to whom on the TV. Because at 3 p.m. on the dot, the world will be reduced European Championships in France, namely the fine and noble they are not related and who looks for all the world as if he’d to a 42-inch screen. But in case the marine biologists among you art of exchanging cash for bright and shiny packs of five self-ad- leave you bruised and penniless if you happened to bump into were starting to get excited at reading about marine organisms hesive photographs and sticking the said items in an album. Al- him in the less desirable parts of Reykjavik? Or, just over the page, in a football story, please note that we have now left the jellyfish though not just any old album, oh no. Any not just anywhere. But under the heading of Austria, a photo of a man called Marko Ar- metaphor behind. Nor are we about to enter into any discussion in exactly the marked space in the UEFA EURO 2016 FRANCE nautovic, once of Werder Bremen but now, happily for Bremen, over the relative merits of jellyfish and octopuses when it comes OFFICIAL STICKER ALBUM. The photos all show either a man playing for Stoke City (excuse the sarcastic undertone, dear Pot- to predicting football results … So to quote those past masters of with a weird haircut or a building of debatable architectural mer- ters fans and all other football-loving people of the beautiful town changing the subject, the lads from Monty Python: “And now for it. Except, that is, for the sparkly silver ones most prized by the of Stoke-on-Trent, but, you know, well, Arnautovic …), with a look something completely different.” mainly young collectors. Now you might be asking yourself why on his face as if he’d just realized there must have been a wasp in SoccerNews # 2/2016 6

Quote on EM

I’m not going along I can’t stop laughing! as the mascot

Freddy Boom, SoccerNews columnist, on watching an online clip in which a baby panda rolls across the Lukas Podolski demands a little more respect after the media gave the impression that Germany’s long- grass holding its paws in front of its face. The caption claims it’s Portuguese international Pepe during the serving striker had only been included for the fun factor he brings to the squad. recent Champions League final.

his last beer? Ok, ok, enough of all that. My own therapist recommends radical memory repres- for the European Championships. To name just ternative. Because despite my pan(European)ini daughters have joined the ranks of Panini sticker sion accompanied by strong medication. But one from the German line-up: Marco Reus. Or theory, there is still a glaring injustice in the exist- collectors and as they aren’t old enough to earn imagine this: thousands of children’s hands from England, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. OK, ing set-up. What about Marcus Rashford, Bernd their own money and only get one euro a week grasping for millions of photos, while perspiring maybe you knew your Panini équipe wasn’t Leno or Mario Gomez? What about all the oth- pocket money (what do you mean, mean?) that parents do their best to update their Excel ta- going to match the final line-up but how absurd ers who will be live on stage in France but hav- makes me the sticker sucker. Which is why I bles of missing stickers in the midst of a howling is that? Two leasing payments for out-of-date en’t been awarded a self-adhesive monument found the findings of the aforementioned British Panini hurricane … It’s a nightmare – one I’d have teams? I suppose it has its brighter side, though, to their talents? In response, I, Freddy Boom, mathematician so interesting. loved to see captured on canvas by Dutch artist as the disappointed last-minute exclusions from Senior Vice President Merchandising with the M. C. Escher. Although maybe it has already the various squads about to compete for Eu- SoccerNews team, propose a supplement to the Basically, he came up with a formula for calculat- been echoed in Norwegian prophet of doom rope’s biggest prize can take comfort in having world of football stickers: Please welcome Fred- ing how much a dad like me has to invest if his Edvard Munch’s “Panini-Collector-Watches-Dog- made it into the 680-strong Panini team. And dini© cut-out stickers. Simply download a pair offspring are going to fill every last space in their Eat-Last-Missing-Sticker” picture: “The Scream”. doesn’t that make them part of an exclusive of scissors, cut out the hand-crafted, carefully Panini album with all 680 stickers. And what Order your missing stickers from Panini, you European footballing community? In these days under-exposed original images of your favorite did he find? On average it takes 747 packs of say? Now what kind of collecting is that? Next of Brexit-fever, let’s take that as a sign of pan-Eu- stars, and glue them ever so carefully onto an five – or 3,735 individual stickers – at a total cost you’ll be recommending an online sticker swap- ropean togetherness. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain extra Freddini© sticker page, stapled into your of €522.90. That would be roughly two monthly ping forum. O tempora, o mores. is on board, despite manager Roy Hodgson’s existing album. Et voilà, as they say from Albania leasing payments on my car. If I’d leased one, failure to nominate him. So there’s no need to to Iceland. that is. So of course, everyone tries to cut their And now we come to the genuine scoop in fear an Oxlexit, nor a Reusexit, come to that. costs – for example by attending or organizing today’s SoccerNews pamphlet: Because, shock, PS: Here’s a question for Panini: How did you a sticker swap day. Have you ever been to one horror, the players depicted in the Panini album Anyway, I’ve decided that in the interests of chil- know that wasn’t going to make of these things? I won’t go into the details. My are not in fact those who made the final squads dren all over the world, I’m going to offer an al- the cut for France? SoccerNews # 2/2016 7

Although some rudimentary belt systems TV ads show Ibrahimović looking back on his already existed, such as the one in the land successful rise from humble beginnings in speed record-holding 1902 Baker Torpedo one of the toughest parts of inner-city Malmö. from the USA, it was Volvo who triggered the Ibrahimović is set to be one of the stars at widespread use of the seat belt. EURO 2016 in France. He says: “Volvo has always done things its own way and dared The basic design of the three-point seat belt to think outside the box – just like me.” Ano- has hardly changed in almost 60 years – but ther contributor to Volvo’s new campaign, nowadays the belt is just one part of a high- which was launched on Monday, May 30, tech safety system that is still constantly was Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer. being enhanced and refined. Since its market “I’ve always been a fan of Swedish icons like launch in 1959, the three-point seat belt has Abba and Zlatan,” says Zimmer, who wrote the become a vital part of occupant protection music for movies like “Gladiator” and “Pirates in all cars, not just Volvos. The inertia-reel of the Caribbean”, to name but two. The cam- locking mechanism, which made the belt paign – which was preceded two years ago by more comfortable and flexible, became Ibrahimović’s first televised ads for Volvo – is standard in 1969 and remains the most im- intended to celebrate “independence of spirit portant visible innovation. But there have and the potential of unorthodox thinking,” ex- also been changes that cannot be seen with plained Anders Gustafsson, Senior Vice Presi- the naked eye. “The seat belt is unique as it dent of Volvo Cars for Europe, the Middle East effectively catches and restrains the occupant and Africa. “Volvo’s road and Zlatan’s road are in the seat. Other systems help the belt do similar in many respects: if we’d done things its job even better, for instance by providing the same way as everyone else, we would information about the forces in play and by never have got to where we are today.” And interacting with the belt during the collision never acquired a brand image that is synony- sequence to provide optimum protection,” mous with superior safety. said Lennart Johansson, head of Interior Safety at Volvo on the 50th anniversary of the Safety at the wheel, 1970-style – thanks to brand new Swedish-made seat belt technology. Photo: Volvo three-point seat belt in 2009. One example here is the belt pre-tensioner. On receiving a signal from the crash sensor, it tightens the Did you know … belt against the body of the occupant and holds them in position. This reduces any gap … that the seat belt was invented an elk in the middle of the road. And (this is between the belt and the body caused, for in Sweden? SoccerNews, after all) talking of creatures of instance, by thick winter clothing. exceptional strength and stature, with Zlatan Ibrahimović playing up front, Sweden is sure Now Volvo has picked another winner. Foot- Safety has always been a big issue in Sweden. to qualify for the European Championships. ball star Zlatan Ibrahimović, Swedish inter- Cars built in this Scandinavian country have But returning to the automotive world, back national and to date, top-scoring forward at a reputation for being pretty robust – which in 1959 Volvo caused a minor sensation Paris Saint-Germain of France’s , is the An all-Swedish affair: Zlatan Ibrahimović advertising is just as well, because Swedish drivers have when construction engineer Nils Ivar Bohlin central figure of a new advertising campaign Volvo and its new V90, backed by the Eiffel Tower. a good chance of taking a bend and finding registered a patent for a three-point seat belt. for Volvo’s new V90 estate car. Photo: Volvo