International news (1 Viewer)

[Slagathor]

From Sydney to London and from Buenos Aires to Moscow - post it all here.

HIDDINK TO COACH SOCCEROOS

Sydney, AUSTRALIA - The Australian FA is preparing to welcome PSV-guru Guus Hiddink as new coach for the National Team: "We're 99% certain this deal with go through", director John O'Neill stated to the press.

"More than 70 coaches put in an application for the job of Australia's NT coach but honesty obliges me to say that Guus Hiddink was always our #1 choice", O'Neill told Fox Sports, "The ink isn't dry yet but it won't take long. It's a matter of days, not weeks."

Hiddink himself called Australia 'a serious candidate' in Voetbal International, a popular and serious Dutch football magazine. "All Australian players will be tied up with their club schedules until the final weeks of May, so that won't conflict with PSV's schedule", Hiddink explained, "They have an interim-coach who's doing a great job so far but if I'm going to take this job, I'll request full authority on all matters concerning the national team."

Australia's next WC-qualification matches are scheduled for September when the Socceroos will face the Solomon Islands. In preparation for this match, there will be a training-camp in Europe in August, as most of the players play for European clubs.

Hiddink would take over from Frank Farina, who quit as NT coach after a disappointing Federations Cup performance. PSV-coach Hiddink has never made a secret of his desire to coach a national team again some time, and a special clause in his PSV contract states he may do so during major tournaments, as long as it doesn't conflict too heavily with the club's interests.

From VI.nl
Translation: Erik

 

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[Martin]

woop dee do

 

[Seven]

Hiddink would stay on as PSV's coach as well?

 

[Slagathor]

Yes.

 

[venom]

Just a rumour .. Tardelli is currently the front-running candidate to become the headcoach of Finland. Arie Haan's name has also been mentioned. The decision should have been made tomorrow but it's now been delayed until next month.

 

[Martin]

++ [ originally posted by venom ] ++
Just a rumour .. Tardelli is currently the front-running candidate to become the headcoach of Finland. Arie Haan's name has also been mentioned. The decision should have been made tomorrow but it's now been delayed until next month.

It's been ages since he actually was successful. The Egypt job he totally flunked.

 

[venom]

++ [ originally posted by Martin ] ++
It's been ages since he actually was successful. The Egypt job he totally flunked.

Has he ever been that succesful as a coach. Still I'd take him out of the current (unofficial) shortlist. His stint with Egypt doesn't tell much, in official matches 2-1-2. Tells more about egyptian FA, I'd guess. Then again, what do I know.

 

[Martin]

Yes, he was successful with the Azzurrini, won the Euro (even twice it may have been). Pirlo was the star at the time so you can see it was some time ago..

 

[venom]

Oh yes, completely forgot it. Points why I currently rank him highest - 1. has authority and 2. doesn't have saunabuddies. And now he'd have time to scout the material as his real job would begin when the EC-qualifiers start next year.

Tardelli in frame for Finland

Marco Tardelli is reportedly in the frame for the Finland national job.

The former Egypt national coach is being considered as a possible replacement for Antti Muurinen.

Muurinen paid the price for Finland's disappointing World Cup qualifying campaign and was dismissed after a defeat to Denmark in a friendly match.

Tardelli is being mentioned along with Dutchman Arie Haan and Bo Johansson - but it is the former Italy Under-21 coach who is believed to be in pole position.

The Finnish Football Federation are expected to make their decision by August.
skysports.com

 

[Chxta]

The rejection of the offer to coach the Super Eagles by the Frenchman, Philippe Troussier, has thrown the Nigeria Football Association into confusion. But to many Nigerians, who have followed the saga of employing a foreign manager for the senior national team, it was expected.

Latest moves started when Nigeria failed to beat the Palanca Negras of Angola in Kano. The call for a foreign coach eventually received the nod, with President Olusegun Obasanjo, who hitherto voted for indigenous coaches, giving the approval for an expatriate.

But that was when the damage had already been done. With only two matches left in the qualification race, and with Nigeria in an unlikely position to pick a ticket for the mundial, a foreign coach is most wanted and believed to possess the magic wand.

Armed with this assurance, the board of NFA chaired by Ibrahim Galadima scurried and scanned the soccer environment for “an available and affordable coach” that “understands African football and players.” A trip to London to interview coaches that fits the standard was undertaken. The venture was done in a hurry; there was no time to think, search and plan. So the lot fell on the once rejected “White witch doctor,” Troussier, who earned the record of qualifying Nigeria for her second consecutive World Cup in France in 1998.

The FA rationalized that the coach was the most appropriate for the time being and rated him high above the other candidates. “He is a world class coach,” David Suleiman, who led the interview panel to London, had said.

Suleiman, head of the NFA’s technical committee, argued that Troussier was sacked by Nigeria during his first tenure because of internal politics, adding that this time an enabling environment would be created for him to discharge the arduous task of qualifying the Eagles for the World Cup.

While the NFA rushed to announce the hiring of Troussier with glee, the Frenchman had made up his mind not to work in Nigeria again.

He told the BBC that he had not signed any contract with NFA and the latter’s pronouncement was unfounded. Although it was initially taken as one of those political statements common to personalities who would not want to appear to be desperate for a job, the news of Troussier’s U-turn confirmed fears that he might not have attended the interview in the first place.

It is true that the trip to London and other efforts made towards securing the services of Troussier and indeed a foreign coach for the Super Eagles have fallen through.

Examining the reasons for Troussier’s rejection of the appointment offer brings to the fore the precarious situation of the country. It was glaring that the coach was not ready to risk his career with the Super Eagles. That is the main reason: he said that it was not likely that the Eagles would make it to Germany.

The question is, why did the NFA want to hire a coach with only two matches left? He is certainly aware that he would have no job anymore should the Eagles fail to qualify for Germany 2006, and given his 1998 experience, his best bet is to jettison the offer.

Now, the NFA is in confusion with the board members desperate to leave a legacy since their tenure will expire in November. They have turned to a three-man advisory body termed “technical backup” to advise the technical crew of the Super Eagles, led by Austin Eguavoen.

Howbeit, a technical team supporting another technical team! The set up is already being described as a distraction for the crew and a source of conflict in an already disillusioned team trying to stagger and wobble their way to Germany. It is instructive to remind the NFA of what happened at the Mali 2002 African Cup of Nations, in which a technical study group comprising Onigbinde, Alabi Aisien and Christo Davies was rubbished by the Eagles’ coaches, Shuaibu Amodu and Stephen Keshi.

To avoid a repeat of that ugly past, it is suggested that if Eguavoen, Samson Siasia, Daniel Amokachi and goalkeeper trainer, Amisu Adisa, are not deemed good enough, let them “step aside” for Onigbinde and co.

But instead of addressing this anomally, the business of buck passing has commenced, with the press made a scapegoat for Troussier’s decision. Dudu Orumen, a well-known sports critic and a member of the interview panel that picked Troussier, was quoted as saying that bad press scared the “White witch doctor” away.

Ironically, Orumen is known for his “harsh” commentaries on issues regarding sports in the media. What is bad in probing the essence of a coach, asking questions about matters affecting Nigeria? It appears that some interests have been affected in Troussier’s rejection of the Eagles’ job.

Apart from the press, they are accusing the former Minister of Sports, Musa Muhammed, for earlier frustrating the NFA’s efforts to hire a foreign coach. Dickson Adejube, a board member of the NFA, had said that Muhammed’s decision to withhold assent was responsible for the situation Nigeria is in now.

Muhammed had insisted that the NFA must follow due process and must be financially responsible to the European manager since the Federal Government would not be providing money for the project, thus, he annulled the appointment offered to Brian Robson shortly before the 2004 Nations Cup in Tunisia.

But Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters and Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Football League, Mr. Lumumba Adey, said the inability of the NFA to hire a coach was not because the President did not want a foreign coach nor was it designed by Muhammed, but was caused by the ineptitude of the NFA board.

Adeh, who is also the President of JC Raiders FC of Jos, said, “For three years the board of the NFA has been trying to get a foreign coach for the Super Eagles, but has failed; it shows that they don’t have what it takes to run football on behalf of Nigerians.”

Amazingly, the NFA is still shopping for a foreign coach despite the shock inflicted on it by Troussier. Its chairman, Galadima, said the association would employ one before the World Cup qualifiers restart. Nothing can stop a gambler from staking anything, even when the chances of winning are far fetched. The World Cup campaign of the Super Eagles has run on chances, and it may not be surprising if the gambling continues.

Galadima has described Troussier’s action as unprofessional; just as the hiring and sacking of Christian Chukwu was also “unprofessional.” Even the players’ attitude to matches had been unprofessional. Unprofessional conduct is, therefore, costing Nigeria a place in next year’s World Cup.

Reasoned opinions suggest that this is a moment to stop and think, and seek the best way forward rather than searching for a foreign coach, who cannot change Nigeria’s situation, at least, for now.

 

[venom]

UP!

I thought maybe I should update this finnish circus, so now we have Jyrki "1-9" Heliskoski in charge for about year. Then Roy Hodgson will take his place for the EC'08 qualifiers.

e: don't see the logic in Viking Stavanger's decision - they'll let him leave in August. Why not after this season and _start_ season '06 with new coach.

 

[Slagathor]

WC2018: ENGLAND OR HOLLAND?

After winning the 2012 Summer Olympics this summer, England looks to add to their triumph by bidding for the 2018 World Cup Finals. Football Association chief executive Brian Barwick believes the positive note can continue. But behind stage, Holland is swiftly working to bring in the lucrative tournament as well and their black horse will be fully dressed in an impressive outfit.

The English FA fought hard with their bid for the 2006 World Cup finals but eventually lost out to Germany. With South Africa being promised the finals in 2010, 2018 seems to be the ideal date for football's greatest stage to return to Europe.

England has great experience of hosting major international tournaments, the 1966 World Cup - the finals England won their first and only World Cup - and the 1996 European Championships where England reached the semi-finals. The same can not be said for Holland; who never hosted the World Cup before but who, and very successfully so, did co-organise Euro2000 in a co-operation with Belgium.

Begs the question why a small nation like Holland would seek a partnership with their Southern neighbours to host a European Championship, but not for a Global tournament.

"We can definitely do it", a spokesman for the Dutch FA explained, "We have the basic infrastructure already in place and would only need to make few adjustments. A tournament in our small nation would also be extremely visitor-friendly with only short distances to travel from match to match. I would also imagine our case is aided by the fact that we hosted the Youth World Cup just this summer - and perfectly so."

The article contains fragments from three different articles originating from Eurosport.com, VI.nl and The Times Newspaper

 

[mikhail]

++ [ originally posted by Erik ] ++
... The English FA fought hard with their bid for the 2006 World Cup finals but eventually lost out to Germany. With South Africa being promised the finals in 2010, 2018 seems to be the ideal date for football's greatest stage to return to Europe...[/i]

What happened to 2014? Have they cancelled the WC for that your? I mean, I know it's been rubbish for a couple in a row now, but that's a bit extreme.

 

[Zlatan]

South America probably.

 

[mikhail]

++ [ originally posted by Zlatan ] ++
South America probably.

Ah, this rotation rubbish they came up with when the losing bidders started to cry after the last decision? I'd hoped they'd forgotten about that.

 

[Slagathor]

No they haven't Completely ridiculous as far as I'm concerned. There's 500 million Europeans, the vast majority of which adore football. It's only fair we should get it at least every other tournament.

 

[mikhail]

++ [ originally posted by Erik ] ++
No they haven't Completely ridiculous as far as I'm concerned. There's 500 million Europeans, the vast majority of which adore football. It's only fair we should get it at least every other tournament.

Even ignoring that for a moment, there are how many countries in South America? How many African countries have the infrastructure to host a World Cup? How many of them will divert money from far more important causes to fund a bid? A bid should be a bid.