Soccernews Issue # 4, 22Th June 2015
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SoccerNews Issue # 4, 22th June 2015 Continental/Division Tires Alexander Bahlmann Phone: +49 511 938 2615 Head of Media & Public Relations PLT E-Mail: [email protected] Belgian Radja Nainggolan (left) heads the ball out of the box away Buettnerstraße 25 | 30165 Hannover www.contisoccerworld.de from Welshman Gareth Bale (centre). Photo: Getty Images Soccer News # 4/2015 2 Aktuell Could Britain have four teams at EURO 2016? The second weekend in June is traditionally a festive event in Great Britain, as Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday is belatedly celebrated with the Trooping the Colour parade. And by coinci- dence this year – for a change – the United Kingdom is also in a celebratory football mood. “Rule Britannia” is the new chant on Europe’s football pitches. The chances at present show hope that Great Britain will travel to the 2016 Scotland (white shirts) have a good chance to qualify for EURO 2016. After Jon Walters (centre) gave Ireland the lead, the “Bravehearts” equalised for a 1-1 result. European Championship in France with four Photo: Imago teams for the first time. After the disappoint- ments in the Champions League, it’s the national teams of England, Wales, Northern next year”, said Hodgson, after Wayne Rooney Belgium, a first qualification for a major tour- 2016: “Everybody knows how much I want to Ireland and Scotland who are delighting their crowned a perfect season with his winning nament since 1958 is within their grasp. “This play at a major tournament with Wales. That fans. goal shortly before the final whistle. One year was our greatest victory, but I think even certainly heads my personal list.” after the disappointing first-round elimination greater will follow. And that’s when we may After the 3-2 win in Slovenia England may at the World Cup finals in Brazil the “Three Li- say: ‘We are going to France’”, said coach The last finals with a Northern Ireland partici- confidently book their accommodation for ons” concluded the season without a defeat, a Chris Coleman, when his team took over top pation also dates back almost 30 years. The the finals. For with six wins in six matches in success last recorded 14 years ago. position in Group B with a five-point advan- Northern Irish competed for the last time at Group E, the team coached by Roy Hodgson tage over third-placed Israel. Their 100-million the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. The wait might looks certain to cross the English Channel. A historic feat is looming for small neighbours euro player Gareth Bale, who scored the win- soon be over, however. After the goalless “Our task is to make the team even better Wales. After a 1-0 triumph over favourites ner, is also dreaming of participating at EURO draw with top team Romania, team manager Soccer News # 4/2015 3 ers from the sheep islands achieved their sec- ond victory over Greece in the current round. Consequently the 2004 European champions are facing their exit after this 2-1 humiliating defeat. A fate which also threatens the upcom- ing World Cup hosts Russia after losing 1-0 to Austria. Placed third it is getting tough for the Russians, while Austria have almost achieved qualification. And how did the alleged footballing greats fare? Title holders Spain got through with a lacklustre 1-0 in Belarus thus consolidating their second position behind supreme Slova- kia in Group C. World Cup bronze medallists Netherlands achieved a 2-0 in Latvia and remain at least in third place in Group A. It looks brighter for Portugal, who defeated Ar- menia 3-2 thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo’s three goals and top Group I. Italy also concluded the post-World Cup season quite acceptably in sec- ond place with a 1-1 draw in Croatia. However, the result was just a side issue at that “ghost match” in Split. A Swastika on the pitch, created with chemical products, caused a scandal and could well cause Croatia great trouble. All that after the team from the Balkans had to play behind closed doors in an empty stadium due to the consistent misconduct of their fans. Wayne Rooney (right), scorer of England’s winning goal during the 3-2 win over Slovenia, is challenged by Ales Mertelj. Photo: Getty Images And World Cup champions Germany thrashed Gibraltar 7-0 in Faro, Portugal, thus consolidat- Michael O’Neill considers the chances for the be sufficient to reach the play-offs. With a 1-1 Faeroes rock the Greek boat ing second place in Group B after a bumpy runners-up spot for the European Champion- draw in Ireland the rivals were kept at bay, and season. At the re-start in September the DFB ship “heightened”. Their home match against they are just three points behind top team Po- But there were football celebrations not only team have the opportunity to topple Poland third-placed Hungary in September could be land. The Poles took their leave into the sum- in Great Britain but also farther north in the from first place with a win in the top match in the key match in Group F. mer break with a 4-0 win over Georgia and Atlantic. Iceland catapulted themselves to the Frankfurt. the fastest hattrick in the history of the Euro- top of Group A with a 2-1 against the Czech The Scots have not yet got that far. In the pean Championship qualification achieved by Republic and made a big step towards their “German” Group D the “Bravehearts” hold Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski first ever EURO participation. The Faeroes third place with eleven points, which might (three goals in four minutes). have not yet got that far, but the crass outsid- Soccer News # 4/2015 4 In order to prevent this part of history repeat- ing itself, the World Cup bus that carried the title-winning German national team and its trainer Joachim Löw around Brazil in 2014 was shipped back to Germany after the tour- nament and parked in a high-security garage belonging to the DFB. When the new German Museum of Football opens in Dortmund this October, the World Cup Winners’ bus will be one of the exhibits. It therefore follows that the team now has to travel to its games on another bus. Two days before last Wednes- day’s international trial match against the USA, The World Cup bus that carried the German team to Mercedes-Benz handed over the new team the title in 1974 is still missing. The vehicle on show bus, a Trevago M – the “flagship of the Mer- in the museum in Stuttgart is only a replica. Image: cedes-Benz omnibus range”, as they phrase Mercedes-Benz Museum it in Stuttgart. “Maximum traveling comfort, the most innovative safety features, best eco- friendliness, dynamic handling characteristics and sleek lines distinguish our current top-of- On the road with ContiCoach HA3 tires the-range model. Just the ticket for football’s from Continental: the team bus of the DFB World Champions”, says Hartmut Schick, Head of Daimler Buses. For example, the vehicle is Above all, the current national team would like to ride this new team bus all the way to the European Champi- fitted with the new “Active Brake Assist 3” sys- onship final in Paris in 2016. Image: GES for Mercedes-Benz tem, which initiates an automatic emergency stop even in the event of stationary obstacles. Did you know … And – naturally – it runs on Conti Coach HA3 tires from Continental. Continental tires also … that the DFB team bus has disappeared? carried the team to victory in the tournament in Brazil. Inside the bus, the players can relax in leather seats and enjoy the convenience of Even so, Bastian Schweinsteiger and his teammates don’t have to worry about how to get to club tables and WLAN. Germany’s Team Man- their next European Championship qualifying games and, if they succeed in qualifying, to the ager Oliver Bierhoff is delighted with the new venues in the host country, France. The bus that has disappeared is the luxury vehicle used model: “Team buses always have emotional by the World Cup winners of 1974. Back then, trainer Helmut Schön and his World Cup heroes value for players and fans, too. Mercedes- Gerd Müller, Franz Beckenbauer and Paul Breitner traveled around their home country, which Benz has a lot of experience with team buses, was host nation that year, in a “Mercedes Benz Omnibus 302-13 R Üh” coach – which “has not they are safe and superbly equipped.” It was resurfaced to this day”, according to Friederike Valet from the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stutt- no different back in 1974, either. Among its gart. The vehicle on display in the Stuttgart motor manufacturer’s museum is only a replica. special extras, the missing World Cup bus Despite years of fruitless searching with the support of the German Football Association DFB, boasted “two fans above the driver’s seat” and the whereabouts of the original World Cup bus, which was painted ochre yellow with black, red a “rear restroom fitted and decorated in the and gold stripes, remains a mystery. color Cognac”. Soccer News # 4/2015 5 ALLEZ BOOM! First-aid hairdryer Our author plans to get in touch with espio- nage expert Edward Snowden to find out what secrets German national team doctor “Dr. Mull” keeps hidden in his little black bag. By Freddy Boom Before we turn our attention to the weekend’s events, I’d like to tell you about how I spent yesterday evening on the sofa.