Soccernews Issue # 05, June 30Th 2014
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SoccerNews Issue # 05, June 30th 2014 Continental/Division Reifen Alexander Bahlmann Telefon: +49 511 938-2615 Leiter Presse- & Öffentlichkeitsarbeit Pkw-Reifen E-Mail: [email protected] Büttnerstraße 25 | 30165 Hannover www.contisoccerworld.de SoccerNews # 05/2014 2 Costa Rica triumphed 5-3. The 2010 World Cup finalists Netherlands avoided extra time Did you know … when Schalke’s Jan Klaas Huntelaar safely converted a penalty in the final minute, after … that penalty shoot-outs were Arjen Robben was fouled. The encounter between the Dutch and the Mexicans took introduced at World Cup finals place in Fortaleza under extreme conditions, in 1982. because the heat and sun exposure were very intense at 13:00hrs local time. The referee Germany then won the semi-final against granted two additional drinks breaks. France. Altogether so far 24 matches have been decided on penalties – including two The Netherlands also upset the impression second-round matches last weekend in that the South and Central American teams Brazil. would have advantages in Brazil because they are accustomed to the climatic conditions. The strong playing Mexican team led 1-0, but … that the 1998 and 2002 the team of Louis van Gaal, the former Bayern finals matches could be Munich and future Manchester United coach, retaliated in the oven of the Costelao Stadium. decided by a Golden Goal The tactical system switched to attack in two stages. At the end the formation was a 4-2-4. The first goal scored in extra time. Three Wesley Sneijder scored the equaliser in the second-round games and one quarter-final 88th minute, set up by a Huntelaar header, were decided that way. and finally the substituted Schalke striker calmly converted the penalty to reach the … that red and yellow cards quarter-finals. “I am very proud of the team and that I am in it. We have fought to exhaus- have been shown since the tion and have been rewarded”, said Dirk Kuyt, Arjen Robben and his Elftal meet in the quarterfinals the team from Costa Rica 1970 World Cup in Mexico. who became the seventh Dutch player to win 100 caps. Since Italy, Spain as co-favourites, Sendings-off have existed for decades, but World Cup insight the high-class tournament in Brazil. The first and England, as the mother country of foot- the cards now clearly identify the players quarter-final fixtures were determined at the ball with the most spectacular league in the involved, especially for spectators, who pre- weekend: Brazil will meet Colombia (Friday, world, had already been eliminated in the first Penalty shoot-outs mark knock- viously didn’t easily recognise whom the 22:00hrs CEST) and the Netherlands will play round, Holland were the first European team referees were punishing. out matches Costa Rica (Saturday, 22:00hrs CEST). to join the best eight World Cup teams. Three of the first four knock-out matches of To decide the matches between Brazil and the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ finals were decided Chile (1-1) and Costa Rica versus Greece on penalties, with these exciting encounters (1-1) 120 minutes were needed – plus penalty underlining again the excellent quality of shoot-outs, which the host team won 3-2 and SoccerNews # 05/2014 3 World Cup insight Cup champions Uruguay, who had forced out England and Italy in Group D. Colombia once again underlined that they are rightly consid- ered an outsider favourite at the 20th World Brazil’s collec- Cup tournament, even without their injured world-class striker Radomel Falcao. Brazil are tive breathe facing their next tough task in the quarter- finals, since coach Felipe Scolari’s team did not fully convince during the 1-1 against Chile of relief after 120 minutes, and the earlier 1-1 draw with Mexico. The Brazilians were very lucky when Chilean Mauricio Pinilla hit the crossbar in the last second of extra time, which would have Relief breathing could be heard avoided his country’s sixth successive elimina- throughout Brazil when the ex- tion in the second round of World Cup finals. With a winning goal for “El Tri” the “Blues” tremely thrilling and intensive would have silenced Brazil, but now the en- match in Belo Horizonte was thusiasm can continue in the hosting country. finally at an end. Costa Rica celebrated reaching the quarter- finals in the fourth second-round match on Brazil’s keeper Julio Cesar was the hero of the Sunday evening. It is a great success for the “Seleção”, saving shots from Mauricio Pinella Central American team, their best ever result and Alexis Sanchez in the penalty shoot-out. at a World Cup. 2004 European champions In addition, Chile’s Gonzalo Jara hit the post. Greece were the dominant team with more The defender was the unluckiest among the ball possession and more scoring opportuni- strong Chile team, because it was he who had ties in Recife. Captain Bryan Ruiz gave Costa scored to give Brazil the lead with an own Rica the lead (52nd min), but Dortmund’s goal (18th min). Sanchez achieved the equa- Sokratis equalised shortly before the end liser after a mistake by Hulk (32nd min). “It’s of added time (90th+2). The Greeks missed more than happiness I am feeling just now”, too many good scoring opportunities, the said Cesar after the final whistle, with tears of Central Americans converted all penalties in joy running down his cheeks. “Now there are the shoot-out, and goalkeeper Keylor Navas three more stages to come. My great dream is saved from former top Bundesliga goalscorer to see Brazil united in one big party”. Theofanis Gekas. After England and Italy, Costa Rica had managed to eliminate a third Colombia underlined their power with their European team. fourth win in their fourth World Cup match, defeating in Rio de Janeiro two-time World The captain of the Seleção, Thiago Silva, in a three-way battle with Eduardo Vargas and Marcelo Diaz SoccerNews # 05/2014 4 Boom’s Brazil Tears for souvenirs In the round of the last 16, there was no holding back any more. Chile’s players wept as the penalty shoot-out went against them. The Brazilians cried when they realized they were through. Netherlands vs Mexico: same scenes, different countries. Not to mention the Greeks. Now even this author’s getting all teary-eyed. by Freddy Boom OK fans, it’s time to drop your shorts and tell it as it is. And at this point I must interrupt my article at the recommendation of the legal department at SoccerNews and explain that I am speaking purely metaphorically. Otherwise we might have problems with the World Cup organizers. It’s bad enough that investigations are underway into Neymar’s exposure of non- FIFA-approved underwear during Brazil’s final group match against Cameroon. We at SoccerNews couldn’t care less about the suspiciously weak elastic in Neymar’s shorts. Continental makes tires, not underpants, so there’s no conflict of interest for the company as one of the official sponsors of the FIFA World On a tear and a prayer: Brazilian players suffer during the penalty shoot-out against Chile. Photo: Getty Cup. Go Neymar, go! Come to think of it, is there actually an official underwear sponsor at the World Cup? My exhaustive them of the Ivory Coast rang out, and almost all Brazilian men teary-eyed Brazilian reporter after the hosts’ narrow escape in study of the pitchside banners hasn’t revealed one. Or do seem to have tears in their eyes when they sing – or should I the penalty shoot-out. “Yingli Solar” make briefs? But I’m getting sidetracked. Like I say shout – their anthem. And Luis Suárez is probably weeping said, this really has nothing to do with us at all. in his mother’s arms right now, because when his biting ban It was that Brazil match on Saturday night that finally broke my was announced it was to his parent’s place in Uruguay that he resistance. I was overcome by phantom grief, which is closely More to the point: Yes, I did it too. I cried. And I’m not ashamed fled. With the onset of the round of the last 16, all pretense of related to phantom pain. It felt as if a Chilean heart, overflow- of my tears. Quite the opposite. Crying is all the rage. As the self-control has been abandoned. After the last-minute drama- ing with desperation, had lodged itself in my chest, where nor- Saturday edition of Germany’s “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” tics of Brazil vs Chile, Netherlands vs Mexico and Costa Rica mally only weary sarcasm and the presumptuous arrogance put it: “Never before have so many wept so readily as at this vs Greece, they all broke down and cried – the victors out of of a sports reporter reside. Oh but that picture from the 107th World Cup.” Spain’s David Villa wept as they were knocked out sheer relief, the losers in deep despair. “Of course men are minute when Chile’s Gary Medel was carried off in one of at the group stage. Serey Dié shed tears as the national an- allowed to cry,” sobbed Dani Alves into the microphone of a those bright orange Brazilian bathtubs with his thigh swathed SoccerNews # 05/2014 5 Quotes of the day Success is as short- It was simply lived as the air in clever of me. your hands. Speaking before the match, Mexican coach Miguel Herrera virtually predicts their tragic defeat at the Dutch forward Arjen Robben after their lucky win against Mexico.