No. 130 | August 2013 in This Issue
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WE CARE ABOUT FOOTBALL No. 130 | August 2013 IN THIS ISSUE Official publication of the GERMANY becoME WOMEN'S EuroPEAN Union des associations CHAMPIONS européennes de football 4 Since 1995, the European women’s title has been the sole preserve of Germany, who won their sixth consecutive crown Chief editor: at UEFA Women’s EURO 2013 in Sweden. André Vieli Getty Images Produced by: Atema Communication SA, CH-1196 Gland POLAND'S UNDER-17 GIRLS crowNED Printing: CHAMPIONS IN NYON 7 Artgraphic Cavin SA, Poland were the winners of the European Women’s CH-1422 Grandson Under-17 Championship, the final round of which took place Editorial deadline: in Nyon, opposite UEFA headquarters, for the last time. 6 August 2013 Sportsfile The views expressed in signed articles are not necessarily the official views of UEFA. SPANISH UNDER-21S ON toP 8 The reproduction of articles published in UEFA·direct Spain’s Under-21 side followed in the footsteps of is authorised, provided the their senior colleagues in Israel, where they retained their source is indicated. European Under-21 title, beating Italy in the final. Getty Images A FIRST for SERBIA 10 At the European Under-19 Championship final round, Serbia were able to secure a first title in a UEFA competition for their national association. Cover: Sportsfile There is no stopping the German women’s team, who won their sixth successive European DISTRIBUTION OF title in Sweden club coMPetitioN REVENUE 12 Photo: Getty Images The clubs that participated in the 2012/13 UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League have already received their share of the revenue generated by these competitions. The other top division clubs throughout Europe now have their turn, thanks Sportsfile to solidarity payments reserved for youth development projects. NEWS froM MEMBER ASSociatioNS 19 2 | UEFA•direct | 08.13 Editorial UEFA FOOTBALL SUPPORTERS’ VOICE IS IMPORTANT The European Football Fans’ Congress of It is true that supporters have always been part Football Supporters Europe, which took place in and parcel of professional football. Their loyalty Amsterdam in mid-July, provides a crucial plat- to their clubs lies at the core of their personal form for UEFA to address and interact with the identity; it is a lifelong commitment. At a time lifeblood of our sport. when the global crisis and a lack of financial dis- As we enter a new season, it remains crystal cipline are threatening the very survival of many clear that, for football, supporters provide that football clubs, supporter involvement offers a lifeblood and make our sport the most popular credible, sustainable alternative to the current sport in the world. This is important to recognise model of club ownership and governance. – and equally important is to ensure that their Financial fair play and club licensing also reso- voice is heard, and that their message is under- nate with supporters, who want to ensure their stood to help shape football’s future. clubs are sustained for the generations to come. Players, coaches and even owners are now This has been a cornerstone in UEFA’s approach changing with increasing frequency, but sup- for the future of European club football, and porters continue to remain loyal to the colours supporters are actively playing their part in it. they proudly wear. This is the reason our sport But our partnership should not rest there. At exists, and this is the reason why UEFA is proud the XXXVII Ordinary UEFA Congress in May, to have established a dialogue with supporter European football – UEFA and its member asso- representatives that allows UEFA to share with ciations – underlined its commitment to combat- them our thoughts and proposals, but it also ing racism by adopting an eleven-point resolu- allows UEFA the opportunity to validate ideas, to tion. The resolution is clear. UEFA will match its answer complaints and to evaluate suggestions. intentions by taking action through its new disci- As gamekeepers, we are aware of the issues. plinary regulations, which go further than ever Safety and security remains top of our agenda. before in terms of punishing those who are We firmly believe we can ensure safety without found guilty of racist behaviour. Fans, too, have stigmatising innocent fans through heavy-handed their role to play in all of this, and we count on policing or travel restrictions that infringe on the them to actively support this resolution. Let us freedom of fans and fail to see fans as people in put a stop to racism. Now. their own right. We remain committed to creat- ing a safe, secure and welcoming environment for fans by putting in place the rules, our safety instructions, which raise standards across the continent. Equally, for ticket pricing, UEFA shares fans’ concerns that increased prices in the current economic climate are making attending matches unaffordable for many, particularly families. We Gianni Infantino are striving to find the right balance between UEFA General Secretary providing a legitimate return for the clubs and a fair and affordable price to supporters. This has resulted in the introduction of a new and more affordable category of ticket for the UEFA Cham- pions League final – a category that amounts to over 20% of the tickets available for the match. UEFA •direct | 08.13 | 3 Women’s EURO 2013 Sportsfile Being in the habit of winning does not make it any less enjoyable GERMANY taKE TITLE at recorD-BREAKING tournament The record books may tell a tale of the 25 matches played by 12 finalists. But sometimes a final tournament is greater than its component parts. Women’s EURO 2013 was a case in point. It was not just about 2,310 minutes of in Solna. New benchmarks were set by matches top-level football but also about an not involving the host team – 10,435, for exam- impressive promotion of the women’s ple, watching the quarter-final between Norway game, due in great part to the organi- and Spain. Fan zones, set up in host cities for the sational efforts of the Swedish national first time at a Women’s EURO, attracted over association, who were as determined 250,000 visitors. Over 1,000 media personnel as UEFA to make Women’s EURO 2013 were accredited. Pan-European television audi- the best-ever event of its kind. It would ences topped the 60 million mark. also be wrong to omit the 1,400 volunteers who At a media conference, UEFA’s General Secre- did so much to make the tournament such a tary, Gianni Infantino, and Karen Espelund, the resounding success. Executive Committee member who chairs UEFA’s Women’s Football Committee, both hailed the Records broken event as the best ever. “I can say that with con- Statistics speak for themselves. All sorts of viction,” said Espelund, “because I’ve been at records were broken. The 25 matches in seven them all since 1987.” Swedish cities were watched by a combined audience of 216,888 spectators – a 68% increase Festive atmosphere on EURO 2009 in Finland. The final between The action matched the festive atmosphere. Germany and Norway drew a competition record Neutral observers applauded a noticeable increase crowd of 41,301 to the magnificent Friends Arena in quality, even though 11 of the 12 finalists were 4 | UEFA •direct | 08.13 the same as in 2009. Levels of tech- against Antonio Cabrini’s Italy and the nique and fitness had improved, as Results host nation. The Italians, having to had the arts of defending and goal- regroup after last-minute injuries, domi- keeping. The Spanish team – the Group A nated the opening match against Fin- only newcomer – produced nimble, 10 July Italy – Finland 0-0 land, improved to beat the attractive possession-based football that was 10 July Sweden – Denmark 1-1 Danish team, and then had what their readily identifiable with the philoso- 13 July Italy – Denmark 2-1 coach called “15 minutes of madness” phy of their men’s team. Denmark 13 July Finland – Sweden 0-5 in which they conceded three goals to offered neat combination football. 16 July Sweden – Italy 3-1 Sweden. The French went home unbeaten in 16 July Denmark – Finland 1-1 normal time after playing some top- Same story quality football which had the pun- Group B Pia Sundhage’s team produced a dits pencilling them into the final. 11 July Norway – Iceland 1-1 similar machine-gun salvo in the quarter- And the Swedish team set the tour- 11 July Germany – Netherlands 0-0 final against Iceland, hitting the net nament alight with some thrilling 14 July Norway – Netherlands 1-0 three times in the opening 19 minutes. power play led by striker Lotta Schelin, 14 July Iceland – Germany 0-3 Then came the semi-final against the who emerged as the golden boot 17 July Germany – Norway 0-1 Germans, during which goalkeeper winner, with five goals in as many 17 July Netherlands – Iceland 0-1 Nadine Angerer and centre-backs Saskia games. Batusiak and Annike Krahn were, once Group C again, solid bastions in front of the net. It was the same story in the final, where Surprises 12 July France – Russia 3-1 The fact that none of these teams the Norwegians took the game to Silvia 12 July England – Spain 2-3 reached the final offers a pointer to Neid’s team but had two penalties 15 July England – Russia 1-1 surprises. Germany, travelling to saved by Angerer, had a goal disallowed 15 July Spain – France 0-1 Sweden on the back of five succes- for offside, and were defeated when 18 July France – England 3-0 sive titles, won only one of their substitute Anja Mittag rounded off a 18 July Russia – Spain 1-1 group games and failed to score rapid counterattack down the left in two of them.