MONDAY, JULY 14, 2014

Goalkeepers shine brightest in Brazil

RIO DE JANEIRO: Despite being a tournament labelled as FAN FERVOR the return of attack-minded football after the caution shown in South Africa four years ago, Brazil 2014 has been a platform for the world’s best goalkeepers to shine. Yesterday’s final featured the widely regarded best stop- per in the world in Germany’s , whose sweeper-keeper ability to rush from his goal could lead to a revolution in how the position is played. However, even those less widely recognised at club level have shone in the bright lights of Brazil over the past five weeks. Argentina’s Sergio Romero made just one league start for Monaco last season, but became a national hero when he saved penalties from Ron Vlaar and to send his side into their first World Cup final in 24 years. With more teams committed to attack the wide-open nature of the tournament certainly gave those in the last line of defence more chance to shine. However, they have also been aided by a reliable ball in the Brazuca which hasn’t dipped and swerved to leave ‘keepers bewildered like the Jabulani did four years ago. North American federation CONCACAF enjoyed their best ever showing at a final with three teams reaching the last 16 in large part thanks to their goalkeepers. Mexico’s somehow kept Brazil at bay in a 0-0 draw in Fortaleza and almost certainly earned him- self a lucrative contract in the process. Ochoa is a free agent having left French club Ajaccio and has been linked with a move to Spanish champions Atletico amongst others. Another man on Atletico’s radar is Costa Rica’s Keylor Navas who is the only player along with to have won three man-of-the- match awards in Brazil. Navas conceded just once from open play in 510 min- BRAZIL: Argentina’s forward Gonzalo Higuain (left) and Germany’s goalkeeper Manuel Neuer vie for the ball dur- utes and also guided his side into the last eight for the first ing the final football match. — AFP time in their history with a stunning penalty save from for- President Barack Obama. Even goalkeepers that played just ons crashed out in the first round. It was a similar story for mer Levante teammate to eliminate one minute of action were decisive as the Netherlands’ Tim Russia’s Ivan Akinfeev as having already dropped a clanger Greece. The single most impressive goalkeeping display of Krul became one of the most important substitutes of the to allow South Korea to open the scoring in his side’s first all, though, may have come from America’s tournament when he was brought on in the last minute of match, he was at fault again when Fabio Capello’s men against Belgium in the last 16. extra time for side’s penalty shootout with Costa Rica. seemed on course for the last 16 against Algeria. Howard made 16 saves, a record for any goalkeeper in a Despite having a far from stellar penalty saving record Capello claimed Akinfeev had been blinded by a laser World Cup match stretching back to 1966. The Everton with club side Newcastle United, Krul made two fine stops pen as he got caught under Yacine Brahimi’s cross allowing goalkeeper became an overnight sensation back in the to end the Central Americans’ fairytale ride to the last eight. Islam Slimani to equalise. States with the hashtag “ThingsTimHowardCouldSave” Just as every keeper can be a hero, though, they can Unfortunately for the 2018 hosts that was to be the only becoming a tending topic on social media site Twitter, also be a villain as Spanish captain found to his bright light on Russia’s campaign as they were sent pack- whilst he also received a personal call of thanks from US cost, making a series of blunders as the defending champi- ing with just two points to their name. — AFP

RIO DE JANEIRO: (From back left-right) President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach, Russian President Vladimir Putin, FIFA President Joseph Blatter, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and Jordanian Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein (center-left), Ali Bongo Ondimba (center-row second right), Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban (center row right) and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attend the closing ceremony ahead of the final football match between Germany and Argentina for the FIFA World Cup. — AFP Brazil look to future

BRASILIA: Amid the calls for swingeing tional level for goalkeeper Julio Cesar, changes at all levels of Brazilian football, while right-back Daniel Alves and much- the reality is that and other mem- maligned striker Fred, as well as fringe How World Cup cash is bers of the squad that failed so spectacu- players including Maxwell and Jo, will be larly at the World Cup will still have an pushed out too. But the Brazilian Football paid to teams, players international future. Confederation must make changes at RIO DE JANEIRO: The most valuable and $500,000 from the 2010 tournament And Brazil will not have long to wait for grassroots level while also ensuring that expensive World Cup ever will earn billions That should have helped pay for training a shot at redemption, with the Copa the full national team remains competi- of dollars for FIFA, millions for the competing camps before arriving in Brazil and settle America in Chile to come next year and tive going into the Copa America in Chile countries and thousands for the more than some player bonus issues which have tradi- the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 in June next year. 700 players selected. tionally dogged World Cup teams, especially before the next World Cup in Russia in Winning Olympic gold, something From its near $4.5 billion in revenue from from Africa. 2018. Brazil has never done, at home in 2016 broadcasters, sponsors, hospitality and Since last Tuesday’s record-breaking 7- would go some small way towards exor- licensing deals, FIFA distributes just over PAY TO PLAY 1 semi-final defeat to Germany in Belo cising the ghost of this year’s disaster. $400 million to the 32 national federations As usual, problems over paying bonuses Horizonte, the country’s President Dilma However, that is an under-23 tourna- taking part in the tournament. exposed the financial problems of African Rousseff and Minister of Sport Aldo ment with room for just three overage Here is how some of that money breaks federations and a fundamental distrust Rebelo have led the calls for major struc- players and captain Silva believes it would down: many players have for elected football offi- tural changes to avoid a repeat in future. be dangerous to use the Copa America as cials. Three of the five African teams - Romario, in the 1994 World Cup win- a warm-up for Rio 2016. FIRST PRIZE Cameroon, Ghana and Nigeria - were dis- ning Brazil side and now a politician, has “The competition is important. There The winner between Germany and tracted by payment issues. Cameroon’s Argentina in the final will get $35 million in squad arrived a day late after refusing to called for an inquest into what went will be Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, prize money paid to its national federation, board a plane, forcing their federation to wrong while also insisting that most of Ecuador, Brazil and Chile, who will be at which can spend the money as it chooses. take out a loan to ensure players got paid. the players involved against Germany home,” he said. “That shows how big the That’s $5 million more than the $30 mil- Ghana’s government flew in $3 million in should never represent their country competition is and how much it has lion took home from South Africa four cash - after Brazil’s government waived laws again. grown. years ago. The runner up gets $25 million (up on moving currency - to avert a threatened “From a group of players that lose 7-1 “It depends on your point of view, and from $24 million in 2010), while the third- strike by players who were reportedly prom- and suffer such embarrassment, normally that of the coach, whether he wants to and fourth-place teams get $22 million and ised between $75,000 and $100,000. 80 percent of them should never wear the put out a team thinking about the $20 million, respectively. Nigeria players canceled a training ses- national team shirt again,” he said. Olympics. But if that happened, a lot of sion before its round of 16 loss against “Although they are not the only guilty people would say he went into it knowing PLAYERS’ SHARE France to ensure its bonus payments were ones, they can’t pull on the shirt again. he was going to lose.” As Brazil look to FIFA lets national federations choose how upheld. They were promised $10,000 each They will forever be scarred.” In contrast, bolster their squad in the short-term, to reward the 23 players on their squads. The for every group stage win, and could have coach Luiz Felipe Scolari claims that “12, experienced defenders Joao Miranda and German federation last year promised all 23 earned $102,500 in total for winning the 13 or 14” members of what he calls a Filipe Luis, who helped Atletico Madrid players a 300,000-euro ($408,000) bonus for title. winning a fourth World Cup title. young squad this year will still be around reach this year’s Champions League final, That is the equivalent of a few weeks’ FIFA PROMISE when Brazil make a new attempt to win a could come back into the reckoning. And basic wage for the German players who are FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke said sixth World Cup in Russia. With an aver- younger names such as Paris Saint- employed by wealthy European clubs like it was “sad” that bonus issues distracted from age age of almost 28, this Brazil squad Germain duo and Lucas Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. the football. He pledged that, in the future, can hardly be considered young but, nev- Moura and Liverpool attacking midfielder FIFA will seek written agreements from fed- ertheless, Scolari is probably not too far Philippe Coutinho may give the squad a PRIZE POOL erations that players are contracted to off the mark. much-needed boost. Prize money for the other 28 federations receive their money before arriving in Russia Indeed, the spine of the current side Either way, Brazil need look no further who are eliminated before the semifinals in 2018. may well remain unchanged, with than the Germans for inspiration as they stayed at the same level as in 2010. Neymar, who will be 26 in four years time, turn to the future. After all, Germany’s Quarterfinalists get $14 million, round of 16 CLUBS’ SHARE leading the attack while captain Thiago superb team of today was born at the losers get $9 million and those which failed Clubs who released the 736 players tak- Silva, who will be 33, could have another 2006 World Cup. Then, as hosts, they also to advance from the group get $8 million. ing part in the World Cup will also get their World Cup in him. suffered an agonising defeat in the semi- How do they spend it? Four years ago, share of FIFA’s revenues. FIFA has set aside The likes of David Luiz, Luiz Gustavo finals, against Italy, before finishing third FIFA acknowledged it did not know if the $8 $70 million to distribute at a rate of $2,800 million paid to North Korea would stay with- per player per day that each was on World and Oscar should survive too, and the ini- by beating Scolari’s Portugal side. Since in football there. Cup duty. The money is shared between tial changes to the playing squad will then, they have been runners-up at Euro In addition, FIFA paid $1.5 million in each player’s current club and any other he probably be gradual, regardless of who is 2008, and semi-finalists at the 2010 World advance to each of the 32 federations to pre- played for in the two previous years during in charge. Cup and Euro 2012, before reaching the pare for the tournament - an increase of qualification matches. — AP This is the end of the road at interna- final in Brazil. — AFP