World Cup Draw Youth Football Conference 04 Futsal Referees
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1.0 6 Including World Cup draw 03 Youth Football Conference 04 Futsal referees’ seminar 08 HatTrick education programme 10 No 45 – January 2006 Message from the UEFA President If I had to choose just one highlight from the European football competitions in 2005, I would have no hesitation whatsoever in selecting the UEFA Champions League final between Liverpool FC and AC Milan played in Istanbul in May. Even though penalty kicks are a cruel and brutal way to lose, this match encapsulated everything that makes football so exciting for millions of spectators and TV viewers: high-quality technique, plenty of goals, a sensational comeback and players giving absolutely everything to win, all in a perfect spirit of fair play despite the incredible tension. In many ways, this 50th final of the European champion clubs’ com- petition extended far beyond the limits of football and can serve as a reference point for us all on at least three levels: firstly, Liverpool’s comeback demons- trated the desire never to give up and to keep believing despite suffering setbacks; meanwhile, the Italian players showed firstly the ability to set about a task with tremendous determination right from the off, and then, after Liverpool had equalised, the capacity to recover from a state of turmoil and move forward again, even though they eventually lost. However, the final in Istanbul also illustrated that, even when the stakes are incredibly high, players UEFA can display a sporting attitude and respect for their opponents and that, in such circumstances, football is the biggest winner of all. Even when This message is not meant to be a moral lesson, but simply a look the stakes are back at one of the key moments of the year just gone and a reminder that “ football is without doubt much more than just an economic activity and fully incredibly high, merits the efforts put in to defend its interests. players can It is an opportunity for me to thank everyone who, during 2005, has given willingly of their time and energy to serving football, not just on the display a sporting pitch but also in all different kinds of football-related meetings and events. I am particularly grateful to my colleagues in the Executive Committee, the attitude and members of the UEFA committees and panels and everyone who, within respect for their the national associations, leagues, clubs and other bodies, has contributed to the success of football again this year. opponents. Thanks to them, football is thriving but – as the Istanbul final also taught us – nothing is ever definitely secure and, unfortunately, 2005 has not been without its examples of violence, racism and greed, to mention just ” a few of the scourges that afflict society and are consequently mirrored in football. However, I do not wish to end on a negative note. I would prefer to underline some of the positive achievements of 2005, such as the broadening of dialogue to all levels – European Union, associations, professional leagues, FIFPro and clubs; the development of our HatTrick assistance programme, including the inauguration of numerous mini-pitches all over Europe; and the summer of grassroots football, when countless young people were able to experience the joys of engaging in our sport. My wish for 2006 is that football will bring you many more such moments of happiness. LENNART JOHANSSON 02 uefadirect 1.06 COVER IN THIS ISSUE Eleven questions for Angel Maria Villar Llona 09 The group phase in this season’s Youth competition Pilot training programme 10 UEFA Champions League concluded draws 05 in December. Bayern Munich (Paolo UEFA through the eyes of a journalist 11 Life after playing 06 Guerrero, front) are through to the next Seminar in Brussels 13 stage whereas Bruges (Gaetan Englebert) Futsal referees continue in the UEFA Cup. at work in Nyon 08 News from member associations 17 PHOTO: BARON/BONGARTS/GETTY IMAGES World Cup A mouthwateringdraw line-up IMAGES MICHEL/BONGARTS/GETTY ON 9 DECEMBER, SIX MONTHS BEFORE THE 18TH WORLD CUP FINALS KICK OFF, LEIPZIG HOSTED THE DRAW TO DIVIDE THE 32 FINALISTS INTO EIGHT GROUPS OF FOUR TEAMS. In addition to Germany, who qua- Designed to avoid ties between Group D: Mexico, Iran, Angola, lify automatically as host nation, 13 Euro- teams from the same continent as Portugal. pean national teams will be competing far as possible (but not between those Group E: Italy, Ghana, USA, in the tournament, which gets under from the same qualifying group), the Czech Republic. way on 9 June with an opening match draw produced the following groups: between Germany and Costa Rica. Of Group A: Germany, Costa Rica, Group F: Brazil, Croatia, Australia, Europe’s representatives, 11 took part in Poland, Ecuador. Japan. EURO 2004, the three exceptions being Group B: England, Paraguay, Group G: France, Switzerland, Poland, Serbia and Montenegro, and Trinidad and Tobago, Sweden. Republic of Korea, Togo. Ukraine. In Ukraine’s case, it will even be their very first World Cup final round, Group C: Argentina, Côte d’Ivoire, Group H: Spain, Ukraine, Tunisia, as it will also be for Angola, Côte d’Ivoire, Serbia and Montenegro, Netherlands. Saudi Arabia. Ghana, Togo, and Trinidad and Tobago, whereas Serbia and Montenegro, and the Czech Republic will be taking part in EURO 2008 draw on 27 January their first World Cup finals under those While the minds of the 14 European teams involved in the World Cup names. As far as notable absentees are finals are focussing on that more immediate major event, there is no concerned, only one former winner opportunity for them to completely lose sight of the fact that the next major of the World Cup will actually be missing, Uruguay, while on the European side, competition, EURO 2008, hosted by Austria and Switzerland, is already the reigning European champions, looming on the horizon, with the draw for the qualifying competition set to Greece, and Turkey, bronze medallists take place in Montreux, Switzerland, on 27 January, starting at 12.00 CET. in the 2002 World Cup, failed to qualify. 03 Presentations Marios and Lefkaritis discussions addresses but also the practical conference. sessions. Youth Conference Building routesin to Cyprus the top THE IMPORTANCE OF INVESTING IN YOUTH FOOTBALL WAS UNDERLINED BY MARIOS LEFKARITIS, HONORARY PRESIDENT OF THE CYPRIOT FA AND MEMBER OF UEFA’S EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, WHEN HE WELCOMED A MIGHTY GATHERING OF OVER 200 PARTICIPANTS AT THE 8TH UEFA YOUTH CONFERENCE STAGED FROM 29 NOVEMBER TO 1 DECEMBER JUST OUTSIDE LIMASSOL. The three-day event kicked off national associations, debate focused years of life as a pilot project, has been with a meeting – chaired by UEFA Technical on reviews of UEFA’s – and FIFA’s – compe- firmly established since last season and Director Andy Roxburgh – of the Elite titions and how best to improve or maximises dialogue and cooperation Club Youth Coaches Forum, where UEFA’s streamline them. Preliminary moves, such between the top clubs and the national club licensing programme and the immi- as the insertion of extra rest days into association. In the meantime, Spain’s cur- nent introduction of rules on quotas on mini-tournament and final tournament rent Under-19 coach, Ginés Meléndez, homegrown talent in UEFA club competi- fixture lists, are to be implemented in the had stressed that work at youth level tions were both greeted as positive moves. near future. needs to be totally in tune with the na- Amid a full spectrum of key issues, Although youth development pro- tional team’s footballing culture and that, it was pointed out that the club acade- grammes vary considerably from country taking Spain as an example, 8 v 8 training mies which recruit children in the 8-9 age to country, they are cross-fertilised by inter- matches are infinitely better suited to bracket are now becoming educating changes of information – and three ses- the national teams’ playing system than agents with strong moral obligations for sions on the second morning provoked 7 v 7. In other words, there was a fasci- finding the right balance between football, a great deal of thought. Before leading a nating mix of philosophy and pragmatism. schooling and preparation for a future practical session involving players from The sheer diversity of the confer- which may lie away from the pitch, given the Cypriot Under-16 and Under-17 ence in Cyprus was further underlined that early recruitment and the zealous squads, Wim Koevermans explained how when Northern Ireland’s Craig Stanfield search for young talent can sow the seeds Dutch football is currently nursing young gave a detailed account of the long-term for drop-out rates which can easily reach talents along the route to the top. Den- benefits of organising a UEFA youth 50 or 60 per cent. mark’s Flemming Serritslev then offered tournament, when Dr Mogens Kreutzfeldt When the club youth coaches details of a radically different approach covered some medical aspects related to were joined by the representatives from via his association’s integrated talent deve- youth education, and when Kozo Tashima, European, African, American and Asian lopment programme which, after three Japan’s technical director, explained how youth development was the founda- tion stone upon which Japan’s dream of staging and winning the FIFA World Cup is being built. As Marios Lefkaritis said while closing the conference with a review of the progress made in recent years: “If there is no youth football, there is no football” – and the sheer volume of ideas and proposals which will shortly appear on the debating tables of various UEFA committees underscore European football’s deep commitment to the cause PHOTOS: UEFA of youth development.