UEFA Cup Groups 03 Euro 2008 SA National Coaches in Berlin Venues
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11 . 0 6 Including UEFA Cup groups 03 Euro 2008 SA 06 National coaches in Berlin 10 Venues for club competition finals 12 No 55 – November 2006 COVER IN THIS ISSUE National coaches in Berlin 10 Italy (Alberto Aquilani on the UEFA Cup groups 03 European Women’s Championship revamped 11 cover), who have already won the European Under-21 Championship EURO 2008 mascots 06 Executive Committee meets in Ljubljana 12 on several occasions, are through Independent European Sport Review 14 to next year’s Under-21 final round The therapeutic benefits in the Netherlands. of football 08 News from member associations 16 PHOTO: SABATTINI CrucialEditorial times Football’s governing bodies – both at national and international level – were created to govern and run the game at a time when football was primarily a recreational pursuit. Despite moving with the times, they are, however, no longer in the best position to sort out for themselves the many problems that confront them. Corruption, money laundering, match-fixing, misplaced government interven- tion, legal disputes of various sorts, and so on, can, indeed, only be dealt with effectively if authority is clearly defined and if the status and independence of football’s governing bodies is recognised by law and they are provided with the necessary means. The Independent European Sport Review initiated by the sports ministers of the EU’s five key member states in cooperation with UEFA and FIFA is an important step in this direction. Its concludes in favour of sport being accorded a special, independent status and supports the European sport model. It also recommends harmonious cooperation between sports authorities and governments, as well as the modernisation of sports authority structures, whereby appro- priate consultation with all stakeholders should be built into the decision-making process. Even though some aspects of the review still lend themselves to discussion, it is essential that it move ahead without delay and, in this respect, the next few weeks will be decisive in terms of the principles of the review becoming a reality in the near future and of sport no longer living under the permanent threat of civil lawsuits. The review has met with a largely positive welcome in sporting circles in general. It is now up to all of us – at European and national level – to do our utmost to convince the politicians of the relevance of its recom- mendations and ensure that they form the basis of the white paper on sport being drawn up by the European Commission. The national associations have an important role to play here, by talking to their sports ministers, governments and EU representatives. It is high time that a legal framework existed which allowed sport to operate according to its own values and to fully assume its social role. The chance to create such a framework has now been presented, and it is an opportunity not to be missed. Lars-Christer Olsson Chief Executive Football should be played in the stadiums, not played out EMPICS in the courts. we care about football 02 uefadirect 11.06 UEFA Cup: aiming for the last 32 An open-looking contest Livorno make their UEFA debut: Lithuanian striker Tomas Danilevicius takes on the Pasching defence in the first round of the UEFA Cup. PINTO/AFP/GETTY IMAGES NONE OF THE 40 TEAMS PARTICIPATING IN THE GROUP PHASE tizan Belgrade, a team currently living OF THE UEFA CUP WOULD BE BOLD ENOUGH TO CLAIM THAT THEIR in the shadow of their traditional rivals from the Serbian capital, Red Star. QUALIFICATION FOR THE LAST 32 IS A MERE FORMALITY. ONCE Livorno, currently in mid-table in the AGAIN, THERE ARE NO EASY GROUPS AND THE FAVOURITES WILL Italian Serie A, will also be in with a BE EXPECTING A ROUGH RIDE. shout. Meanwhile, Maccabi Tel Aviv will certainly be keen to erase their terrible The 40 participating teams Group A: Le Guen faces start to the Israeli league season. will be aiming to finish in the top three his compatriots of their group in order to be guaran- Paul Le Guen’s Rangers, who Group B: a very solid group teed of a place in the round of 32, are having to play second fiddle to Celtic While there are no easy which will also include the eight teams in the Scottish championship, will be groups, there are some which everyone finishing third in the UEFA Champions hoping to qualify from their group. How- would have been glad to avoid. One League groups. The UEFA Cup group ever, they will have to face an AJ Auxerre example is Group B, where Tottenham phase promises some exciting encoun- side who are in a respectable position Hotspur and Bayer Leverkusen will be ters between ambitious clubs who in the French league but do not seem as the favourites. However, there is not will be secretly dreaming of reaching ambitious as they were under the leg- much to smile about at White Hart Lane the final at Hampden Park, Glasgow, endary Guy Roux. The two Group A at present, while Bayer have improved on 16 May. favourites will need to watch out for Par- after an unconvincing start. The repre- 03 Robbie Keane Aruna Dindane scores for of RC Lens Tottenham controls the against Slavia ball despite the Prague. attentions of Goran Grkinic of Ethnikos Achnas. EMPICS FLASH PRESS sentatives of these two great nations ware of the Portuguese team SC Braga, will have their work cut out against who are holding their own with the the Belgians of Club Bruges who, de- leading lights of their national cham- spite not leading the title race in their pionship. Neither should he discount country, remain solid performers. Slovan Liberec, who are dominating Besiktas, who are again at the top the Czech title race, nor AZ Alkmaar, end of the Turkish league table, will whom the ambitious Louis van Gaal also provide stern opposition. They will be hoping to take a long way in are joined by Dinamo Bucharest, who the competition. Finally, Grasshopper are dominating the Romanian cham- Zurich, after several years in the dol- pionship this season. Rarely has a drums, are now coached by former group been so open. Stuttgart player Krassimir Balakov and have regained a certain credibility are not currently in the upper echelons Group C: Sevilla FC the hot which will ensure they are taken very of the Dutch league, rather like Black- favourites seriously by their opponents. burn Rovers in England, although the Current holders of the UEFA latter proved their worth by eliminating Cup and UEFA Super Cup, Sevilla FC Group D: Parma hope to the ambitious Austrians of Salzburg in have begun the season well in Spain shine again the previous round. Similarly, Swiss side and are expected to carry their excel- Two-times UEFA Cup Basel are not reaching the high stan- lent form into the UEFA Cup. How- winners, Parma FC, who are dards that took them into the Champi- ever, coach Juan de la Cruz Ramos struggling at the wrong end of ons League in the 2002/03 season. The knows that he will have to be- the Italian championship, will most in-form team is definitely AS Nancy- certainly be hoping to Lorraine, who achieved the outstanding shine again in Europe. feat of eliminating Schalke 04 in the first Despite their problems, round. Meanwhile, the Poles of Wisla Sevilla’s Jesus Navas the Italians are much Krakow, coached by Dan Petrescu, will fends off Amadou fancied to qualify, be hoping to upset a few applecarts and Sanokho of Atromitos in the first round. although RC Lens, appear to have the players to do so. who are currently one of the best teams in Group F: Ajax and the rest France, appear equally strong. With numerous past successes The Spaniards of Osasuna are under their belts, Ajax Amsterdam, who certainly also ambitious and are also dominating the Dutch cham- visitors to Pamplona will not pionship, ought to qualify from this have an easy ride. Meanwhile, group. The main challenge for the team Dutch team Heerenveen coached by Henk ten Cate is likely to will be trying to cause an come from Espanyol Barcelona, although upset, as will Odense of the Catalans are not faring too well in Denmark, who should not their national championship. Sparta be written off too early. Prague are also a quality team, although they are also struggling in their domes- Group E: AS Nancy- tic league. Even though they are finding Lorraine have the wind life tough in their national champion- in their sails ship, Austria Vienna will not be an easy This may not be opponent, and neither will the Belgians the strongest group, but it of Zulte Waregem, who are also facing is certainly a fascinating a few problems at domestic level. one. The battle will be GOULIAMAKI/AFP/GETTY IMAGES very open between teams Group G: Mlada Boleslav that are not necessarily the revelation? setting the world on fire It is very difficult to predict in their respective who will qualify from this group, although champi- Paris St-Germain should expect to go onships. through. However, the Parisians’ prob- Feyenoord lems in the French championship are 04 uefadirect 11.06 Miroslav Matusovic Eintracht Frankfurt of Sparta Prague (Ioannis Amanatidis, scores the winning in the foreground) goal against Hearts knocked out Brondby in the first round. of Denmark in the first round. HEIMANN/BONGARTS/GETTY IMAGES HEIMANN/BONGARTS/GETTY Group A Group H: all strong nations AJ Auxerre Along with Groups A and B, Rangers FC this group appears to be one of the FK Partizan toughest.