Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 91 i Soccer 360 Magazine

FIFA WORLD CUP GOLDEN BALL 2014 WORLD CUP Messi won the award for the best player of the 2014 FIFA World Cup held in South Africa FIFA WORLD PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2009 In 2009, before FIFA decided to merge with French Football and the Ballon d’Or, FIFA World Player of the Year was the award given to best male players in the world. Messi won the award in 2009, following a remarkable season where he won the La Liga title, Copa del Rey, Supercopa de Espana and the Champions League (2008/2009 season). THE BEST FIFA MEN’S PLAYER: 2019 France football and FIFA parted ways again in 2015, and the FIFA player of the year was replaced by FIFA Men’s Player of the Year. Messi beat off competition from Liverpool’s…

JAMES TAVERNIER The Rangers captain drew plenty of attention last season for some critical programme notes which raised more than a few eyebrows. This term, Tavernier has been in sensational form. The English right-back was Rangers’ top scorer at the end of January, contributing an incredible 14 goals and 10 assists from defence. ALFREDO MORELOS Many championship-winning teams have their mavericks, and Morelos would certainly come under that category. Rangers have done well to keep hold of the Colombian forward who is now in his fourth season in Glasgow. Hot-headed and tempestuous at times, he delivers the X-factor at others. KEMAR ROOFE Former Leeds United striker Roofe arrived from Belgian outfit Anderlecht for a fee of around L4.5m in the summer. He only took 16 games to reach double figures…

"THIS IS PROVING TO BE A BREAKTHROUGH SEASON FOR HARVEY BARNES WHO HAS ALREADY PASSED HIS GOAL TALLY FROM LAST SEASON" THE GOOD Leicester City are fast gaining an excellent reputation for developing young talent and unearthing hidden gems in the transfer market, and that is being underlined by the growing influence of several emerging stars who are helping to drive their title bid. Led by the astute guidance of manager Brendan Rodgers they are setting the club’s sights on the top once again, five years after the Foxes pulled off the ultimate shock of going from pre-season relegation favourites to champions. This is proving to be a breakthrough season for Harvey Barnes, who has already surpassed his goals tally for the whole of 2019-20 and is posing a persistent…

"FLICK’S CHAMPIONS HIT A BUMP IN THE BUNDESLIGA ROAD AT THE BACK END OF 2020. " THE GOOD Bayern Munich’s all-conquering display in the 2019-20 season announced their return to the summit of the European game as Hans Dieter-Flick’s side swept up a domestic and European treble for the first time since Jupp Heynckes’ dominant team did it back in 2013. However, despite a notably impressive start to the 2020-21 campaign, on the back of star midfielder Thiago Alcantara leaving for Liverpool, Flick’s defending champions hit a bump in the Bundesliga road at the back end of 2020. That slip in form allowed title rivals RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen to start to smell blood in the title race as 2020 turned into 2021. But despite the pressure of a…

"A CRITICISM OFTEN LEVELLED AT LUKAKU IS HIS INABILITY TO AFFECT THE BIG MATCHES, BUT HE HAS DISPELLED THIS NOTION EMPHATICALLY SINCE MOVING TO THE NERAZZURRI." THE GOOD Ciro Immobile has continued his astounding goalscoring form from last season when he won the Capocannoniere title by scoring 13 times by the midway point of the 2020-21 campaign. The 30-year-old celebrated New Year by hitting the back of the net seven times in nine league games, including vital goals in games against Napoli, Milan, and Roma. The former Borussia Dortmund man has scored 143 times in all competitions in just 196 games since he joined the Biancocelesti in 2016. Immobile’s goals took Lazio to the coattails of Inter and the Biancolesti have one eye on a top four finish and the…

The coronavirus pandemic has left the world in a pretty terrible shape economically, with sports and football especially suffering a severe impact from the situation. Usually, a busy time for transfers in European football, January offers teams and managers the opportunity to bring in players that will help them finish in their desired league positions. But this January has seen a 50% drop in player transfers as clubs try to stay afloat amid the pandemic. Despite the situation however, over 100 deals were struck in Europe top five leagues this January with most of them being player-exchanges and loan deals, and a lot of managers were able to secure some top players in the window. With some of these players settled down and already making an impact good or bad,…

Toronto FC disappointed in the playoffs last season, but are looking to start anew in 2021 by adding some fresh faces to the familiar names. One of the ways they have managed to address some of the gaps in the squad is through the 2021 MLS SuperDraft. While they did not have a top pick in the opening round, they were still able to draft left-back Matt Di Rosa from the University of Maryland. The 22-year-old featured in all 21 games for the University of Maryland last season and could potentially make an immediate impact on the Reds. While he has never played professionally, he was a big part of Maryland's 2018 championship success and will be ready to show he can get it done in the MLS as well.…

CHICAGO RED STARS 2020 RECORD: 1-2-1, 4 points (Ninth, Second Place in the NWSL Challenge Cup) HEAD COACH: Rory Dames KEY PLAYERS: GK Alyssa Naerher (USWNT), DEF Julie Ertz (USWNT), DEF Tierna Davidson (USWNT), and DEF Bianca St. Georges (CANWNT) KEY ADDITION: FWD Mallory Pugh (Sky Blue FC) KEY DEPARTURE: FWD Christen Press (Manchester United) OUTLOOK: After losing Press to United last fall, it looked as if the Red Stars might struggle to find goals in 2021. Enter Pugh, who at 22 is just starting to find her attacking form. If Dames can get Pugh into gear then the Red Stars attack will be set. Also, keep an eye on St. Georges who had a superb Challenge Cup last year after returning from injury. PREDICTION: Fourth in the table, Third…

GOALKEEPER- ZACK STEFFEN (MANCHESTER CITY) Steffen has been a rock for the USMNT during this transition phase and has earned the starting spot with steadily improving work. He’ll be 27 when play kicks off in Qatar putting him right in the prime of his career. If he can get a few big results during qualifying he will cement his starting spot. LEFT BACK-SERGINO DEST (FC BARCELONA) Dest can play both left and right back and has done so at the Camp Nou for Barcelona. However, his expert tracking and speed will most likely be needed more on the left. That, coupled with the US having a bit more depth on the right makes him the perfect addition as their left back. What will be interesting to see is if Berhalter…

IMPORTANT DATES MARCH 11 March: Round of 16, 1st leg 18 March: Round of 16, 2nd leg 19 March: Quarter-final & Semi-final draws, Nyon APRIL 8 April: Quarter-finals, 1st leg 15 April: Quarter-finals, 2nd leg 29 April: Semi-finals, 1st leg MAY 6 May: Semi-finals, 2nd leg 26 May: Final – Gdańsk Stadium, Gdańsk Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has taken to management like a duck to the River Mersey. Now in his third season in charge at Rangers, the proud Scouser is looking to become an honorary Glaswegian – on the blue half of Scotland’s biggest city, at least. A club known for its close links to Glasgow’s docks, it’s the mill that Rangers have been through since they last lifted the Scottish title. Champions for the third time in…

KEY DATES FIXTURE DATE Leicester vs. Man City April 3 Tottenham vs. Man Utd April 10 Man Utd vs. Liverpool May 1 Man City vs. Chelsea May 8 Man Utd vs. Leicester May 11 Leicester vs. Tottenham May 23 Dates subject to change ‘MANCHESTER CITY BECAME THE NINTH CLUB TO TOP THE PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE IN LATE JANUARY’ A season like no other has thrown up lots of thrills and spills in the Premier League. The condensed campaign means the games keep coming thick and fast. There’s little time for rest or training ground drills, while squads are being tested to the limit. This has led to an unpredictable title race, with Manchester City becoming the ninth club to top the table when they reached the summit in late January. The…

KEY DATES FIXTURE DATE Sevilla vs. Atletico Madrid April 4 Real Madrid vs. Barcelona April 11 Villarreal vs. Barcelona April 25 Valencia vs. Barcelona May 2 Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid May 9 Real Madrid vs. Sevilla May 9 Atletico Madrid vs. R. Sociedad May 12 Real Madrid vs. Villarreal May 23 Dates subject to change ‘ATLETICO MADRID HAVE SURGED TO THE TOP OF LA LIGA’ The early pace-setters weren’t Barcelona or Real Madrid. They weren’t even Atletico Madrid. No, it was Real Sociedad, inspired by Mikel Oyarzabal and David Silva, who led the way early on. And even though the Basques have faltered since, in many ways they set the tone for the season to come. Atletico have surged to the top, going into a 10-point lead by the start of…

KEY DATES FIXTURE DATE RB Leipzig vs. Bayern Munich April 3 Wolfsburg vs. Bayern Munich April 17 Bayern Munich vs. Bayer Leverkusen April 21 Koln vs. RB Leipzig April 21 Bayer Leverkusen vs. Eintracht Frankfurt April 24 Bayern Munich vs. Gladbach May 8 Borussia Dortmund vs. RB Leipzig May 8 RB Leipzig vs. Wolfsburg May 15 Borussia Dortmund vs. Bayer Leverkusen May 22 Dates subject to change ‘BAYERN MUNICH HAVE HAD TO WORK HARDER THAN IN PRIOR BUNDESLIGA CAMPAIGNS’ Although Bayern Munich are wellplaced to start pulling away from the chasing pack, the race is far from won yet. The Bavarian titans, who are seeking to win an unprecedented ninth straight Bundesliga title following their treble win last season, have had to work harder than in prior campaigns. Moreover, die Roten…

KEY DATES FIXTURE DATE Napoli vs. Inter April 18 Juventus vs. Milan May 9 Inter vs. Roma May 12 Juventus vs. Inter May 16 Atalanta vs. Milan May 23 Dates subject to change ‘FOR MILAN, WHILE COACH STEFANO PIOLI DESERVES MUCH CREDIT, THE CATALYST HAS UNDOUBTEDLY BEEN ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC’ An unexpected title race is underway in Serie A, with Inter leading the way ahead of Milan, Roma, and Juventus and Napoli, Lazio, and Atalanta a little further back. The Rossoneri were crowned Winter champions for the first time since the 2010-2011 season but had their city rivals breathing down their neck. Inter have stabilised after a rocky start to the season, setting up a tense final half of the campaign. For Milan, while coach Stefano Pioli deserves much credit, the catalyst…

EASTERN CONFERENCE KEY DATES! FEB. 22: MLS Preseason training begins (6 weeks) APR. 3-4: MLS is Back - Opening Weekend 2021 LATE AUG.: MLS Heineken® Rivalry Week LATE SUMMER: MLS All-Star Game presented by Target, Leagues Cup, Campeones Cup NOV. 7: MLS Decision Day NOV. 19: Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs begin DEC. 11: 2021 MLS Cup ATLANTA UNITED FC 2020 RECORD: 6-13-4, 22 points (12th in the East, Did Not Make The Playoffs) COACH: Gabriel Heinze KEY ADDITION: FWD Erik Lopez (Olimpia) KEY DEPARTURE: MID Jeff Larentowicz (Retired) OUTLOOK: Atlanta had an uncharacteristic poor season after losing talisman forward Josef Martinez early due to a torn ACL. With Martinez healthy and a full season from Marcelino Moreno in the midfield. The big question is if two of Atlanta’s other…

WESTERN CONFERENCE AUSTIN FC 2020 RECORD: Did Not Play COACH: Josh Wolff KEY ADDITIONS: DEF Nick Lima (San Jose Earthquakes), MID Ulises Segura (D.C. United), MID Cecilio Dominguez (Independiente), MID Alexander Ring (New York City FC), FWD Rodney Redes (Guarani) KEY DEPARTURES: N/A OUTLOOK: Austin took the ‘Atlanta approach’ to developing their side, focusing on young, explosive attacking players with tremendous upside. Both Redes and Dominguez are considered to be two of the top young players coming out of Paraguay and have played at the Youth National Team level with one another. Both Ring and Segura are excellent possession-based midfielders and should work well with their young strikers up top. While Austin will certainly have their growing pains, there is a lot to like about this side and they will…

While everyone loves the action on the football pitch, everyone else also loves a good story off of the field as well. This upcoming National Women’s Soccer League season will have plenty of stories both on and off of the field to keep supporters watching, writing, and posting all season long. Here are the five major ones worth paying special attention. #1 THE NWSL CHALLENGE CUP RETURNS! After a fantastic first year the NWSL will be bringing back the Challenge Cup to kick off the 2021 season. Last year’s competition aimed to give the league and its players a bigger audience in the United States (partnering in the United States), but also to show that the league could provide compelling drama worth tuning in every week for. They succeeded in…

‘‘QATAR A POPULAR LOCATION FOR HOLIDAYMAKERS IN THE WINTER.’’ Qatar is preparing to make history by hosting not only their first FIFA World Cup™, but the first ever to be staged in the Middle East. And the peninsula promises to produce a World Cup like no other. It will be the smallest nation ever to host the global finals, for one, allowing visitors to navigate the country with ease – and even plan for watching multiple matches on the same day. Add to the mix traditional Arab hospitality, and winter weather conditions ideal for watching and playing the beautiful game, and Qatar’s World Cup promises to be one to savour. The Qatari peninsula shares its only land border with Saudi Arabia, though Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates can be…

LUIS SUAREZ TO TOP THE SCORING CHARTS Luis Suarez looks like he has been there forever in this Uruguayan side, and on the evidence of his recent performances isn’t going anywhere soon. The nimble forward has been in this team since he was and has scored times, making him Uruguay’s leading scorer and most prolific striker in the nation’s history. At 34, El Pistolero is supposed to be slowing down. But rather than slow down, he is back among the goals after being released by Barcelona and is tormenting defenders every day in Spain. The striker is playing like a possessed man and will look to establish his legacy as a Uruguay great by taking his team to the World Cup. He already has four goals in three games and…

There are superstars all over the pitch these days. Goalkeepers and defenders can be the most important players in their squads and midfielders are quite regularly held up to be the leaders of their teams. But there is an old adage that ‘goals win games’ – and this summer’s European Championship will feature some of the very best strikers in the world looking to fire their country to glory. Some of the less-fancied teams competing at Euro 2020 will look to their own national heroes to give them a chance. Finland are taking part in their first ever major international tournament and will be expecting Teemu Pukki to be the main provider up front. If he scores a few goals then Finland may do all right. The same is true…

EURO 2020 KEY DATES GROUP STAGE FRIDAY 11 JUNE - WEDNESDAY 23 JUNE REST DAYS ON 24 AND 25 JUNE ROUND OF 16 SATURDAY JUNE 26 - TUESDAY 29 JUNE REST DAYS ON 30 JUNE AND 1 JULY QUARTER FINALS FRIDAY 2 JULY - SATURDAY 3 JULY REST DAYS ON 4 AND 5 JULY SEMI FINALS TUESDAY 6 JULY - WEDNESDAY 7 JULY REST DAYS ON 8, 9, AND 10 JULY FINALS SUNDAY 11 JULY The rescheduled Euro 2020 is just around the corner and European national teams are getting set to battle it out for the prestigious Henri Delaunay Trophy when the group stages begin later this year. With plans for the final to be held in England, Gareth Southgate is the man tasked with leading a unique generation…

MANCHESTER CITY Lionel Messi seemed to have his heart set on a move to Manchester City last summer but for a disputed contract and stratospheric €700m release clause to stop him in his tracks. Manchester and Messi seem the favoured marriage for the attacker, to link up with Pep Guardiola and friend Sergio Agüero. PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN The other of the more likely destinations. Messi shares a close bond with Neymar and fellow Argentine Angel Di Maria, and the dugout is now occupied by compatriot Mauricio Pochettino. And PSG have courted Messi for some time, dating back to the Qatari investment of 2011. INTER Inter are in the midst of some boardroom upheaval themselves as Suning field offers for the club but if at all possible, the ownership would surely break…

Alejandro ‘Papu’ Gomez’s transfer to Sevilla in January marked the conclusion of a story that looked set to overshadow Atalanta’s season. The club captain, and arguably only superstar player, had a dressing-room fall out with Gian Piero Gasperini in a 1-1 draw with Midtjylland. While the exact details are unclear, the coach’s side of the story implies that Gomez was unwilling to adhere to his tactical changes, leading to his substitution at half-time. Evidently, there was more to the story as Papu featured just twice more for the Orobici, although admittedly in key games against Ajax and Juventus. Despite reportedly making up with owner Percassi, Gomez was clearly not in Gasperini’s plans and as a result was sold off for reportedly around €6m, roughly €10m under his market value. Despite…

GERARD HOULLIER Gerrard was handed his Liverpool debut by the late Houllier back in November 1998, going on to make 13 appearances in all competitions that season. Houllier led Liverpool to a cup treble in 2001, as the Reds lifted the FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup. Gerrard no doubt learnt a lot from his first taste of success under Houllier, especially given the nature of those knockout tournaments. KEVIN KEEGAN In May 2000, Gerrard was handed his England debut by another Liverpool legend in Keegan. Although he would only feature once as a substitute at Euro 2000, Gerrard was exposed to a major international tournament for the first time. Not only learning about the pressures of such situations, he also gained first-hand experience of one of English football’s…

TOTTENHAM Meanwhile, the likes of Tottenham cannot be completely ruled out of this tournament as they look to bring home the first European Cup in their history under the guidance of Jose Mourinho. The Portuguese is a serial winner and has a history in the Europa League, as he won it with Manchester United in 2017. Spurs have a squad that can go toe-to-toe with anyone in the competition and will be looking to make history and book a place in the finals in Poland. LEICESTER CITY Brendan Rodgers’ entertainers are the next English side, looking likely to make it to the final from the present bunch of club sides. The Foxes are priced as outsiders by many punters but have proven that on their day they could beat any…

Given the state of most clubs’ finances due to the continued absence of crowds, few major signings were expected in the Premier League’s winter transfer window. That was certainly the case, with little by way of blockbuster signings and a lot of loan deals going through. A few of the division’s big hitters were widely recognised to have the odd hole in their squad which needing filling, with some entering the market and others choosing not to. Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool made consistent noises that they wouldn’t be dipping into the market to fill the void left by injured central defenders Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez. Midfielders Jordan Henderson and Fabinho have performed admirably when filling in at the back, but the Reds finally secured deals for Preston North…

Loans were the order of business in Spain in the January transfer window. The coronavirus pandemic has seen belts tightened across the sport, and it was no different in La Liga. The highlight signing was arguably Atletico Madrid bringing in Lyon striker Moussa Dembele on a deal to the end of the season, with a view to making it a long-term arrangement in the summer. Atleti reportedly paid €1.5m to sign the 24-year-old, with a fee of €33.5m to come if it becomes permanent. Dembele was much-coveted after scoring 24 goals in Ligue 1 last season and filled the gap left by Diego Costa, who was released in search of more playing time elsewhere. Across the capital it was more about departures. Luka Jovic returned to Eintracht Frankfurt, where he…

At boardroom level, Bayern Munich pride themselves on fiscal responsibility, and as such chose not to get involved in the January transfer window. Hans-Dieter Flick has plenty of options in all areas of the pitch, and evidently knows how to get the best from them. The form of Robert Lewandowski, Serge Gnabry and Alphonso Davies has been particularly encouraging. Borussia Dortmund, meanwhile, were preoccupied with changing coach – and that meant January was not the right time to spend. Lucien Favre was dismissed following December’s embarrassing 5-1 home defeat to Stuttgart and with Edin Terzic appointed as a stop-gap shortly after, there was barely time for the coach to assess his squad and give the go-ahead for January signings. Instead, it was RB Leipzig who spent big. The upstarts lost…

The headline arrival as far as the race for the Scudetto is concerned was Milan’s capture of Mario Mandzukic, bringing the Croatian back to Serie A after a short spell in Qatar. Mandzukic was a brutally effective player for four seasons at Juventus and when the Rossoneri went searching for back-up to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the 34-year-old fit the bill. Milan also grabbed defensive cover from Chelsea in England international Fikayo Tomori and bolstered the midfield with the signing of Souahilo Meite from Torino, both on loan. Stefano Pioli’s squad was left with better depth than when the window opened, although a lack of cover for Theo Hernandez at leftback could be a concern. Elsewhere, neither Juventus nor Inter added to their senior ranks. Indeed, the Nerazzurri were more preoccupied with…

1. Malte was born in Nastved, a town located on the island of Zealand in Denmark. 2. He made his professional debut with HB Koge in the Danish Cup in 2015. 3. He also played against New York City FC during a friendly game with HB KØge in February 2016. 4. A Danish youth international, Malte has represented his country at various levels after making his debut in 2016. 5. Malte enjoyed a spell with Rosenborg and helped the club win the Norwegian super cup, also known as the Mesterfinalen, in 2018. 6. Signed from Vejle Boldklub, he helped the club secure promotion to the Danish Superliga last season. 7. Malte spent half a season playing in Germany with Eintracht Braunschweig. 8. He has spent the majority of his career…

Toronto FC have not been the most successful franchises when it comes to head coaches, often having played fewer seasons that number of coaches they've had. That was of course until Greg Vanney came and turned things around, but with his departure the question remains whether the Reds will find themselves conducting another coaching carousel. Prior to Vanney's arrival, no coach had lasted more than two full seasons. Toronto FC had begun MLS play in 2007, but by the start of the 2010 campaign the club was already on their fourth head coach. While the Reds may have been too quick to dismiss coaches in the past, it must be said no coach prior to Vanney was very successful on the pitch. The team had never made the playoffs and…

"THEY ALSO REMAIN AS UNPREDICTABLE AS EVER, ENSURING INTEREST IN THE LEAGUE UNTIL THE VERY LAST GAME." THE GOOD When Major League Soccer was first being discussed in 1988, it was done so as a condition of FIFA awarding the 1994 World Cup to the United States. The governing body required the country to have a Division 1 professional league. It would provide an opportunity for young Americans to be able to play professionally in their own backyard and gain opportunities that hadn't existed prior to it. In 2021, the league is proving to be a hotspot for developing young talent and turning them into international superstars. Clubs from around the globe are starting to take notice as well. Canadian Alphonso Davies was a product of the Vancouver Whitecaps residency…

This summer the United States Women’s National Team will be looking to earn their fifth Gold Medal in the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo. While the USWNT have already qualified the big question is: Who will be going? Soccer 360’s Sean Maslin has a look at what the starting eleven might look like: GOALKEEPER: ALYSSA NAEHER (CHICAGO RED STARS) Naeher has the inside track, having started all three of the USWNT’s matches since their return to play. At 65 caps, she also has the experience over her closest competition Ashlynn Harris (Orlando Pride). LEFT BACK: CRYSTAL DUNN (PORTLAND THORNS) Dunn can pretty much play any position on the pitch and excel thanks to her tactical awareness. Her ability to read the field, analyze the best approach, and execute makes her…

HISTORY Humanity is considered to have existed in Qatar for 50,000 years, with settlements from as far back as the Stone Age having been discovered. The country was introduced and converted to Islam in the seventh century. Having fallen under the control of various empires down the centuries, Qatar became a British protectorate in 1916. Following the discovery of oil reserves in the 1930s and the expansion of national infrastructure in the subsequent decades, the country declared independence in 1971. ECONOMY Before the discovery of oil, fishing and pearl hunting were the nation’s dominant industries. These days, Qatar is the world’s secondlargest exporter of liquefied natural gas. The country’s currency is the Riyal. GEOGRAPHY With a compact surface area of just 11,000 square kilometres, Qatar is ranked by the United…

European Championships down through the years have provided some of the very best examples of football brilliance. Old foes have met and new superstars have announced themselves on the continental stage. But it is the goals that most people remember. Here are a few of the very best in European Championship history. MARCO VAN BASTEN, NETHERLANDS VS. USSR, 1988 Possibly the best goal of all time? The Dutch striker met a lofted cross beautifully and volleyed into the net at an incredibly acute angle. It is one of the most enduring memories of any European Championship. HAL ROBSON-KANU, WALES VS. BELGIUM, 2016 Wales had never qualified for the finals before but made it all the way to the last four in 2016. But it was in the quarterfinal where Hal…

With the number of countries taking part in the European Championship finals only increasing to 16 in 1996 – and then 24 in 2016 – there has not historically been a chance for the best strikers in Europe to achieve impressive goal hauls. Michel Platini still holds the record for most goals in a tournament, nine in 1984 when he led France to their first-ever major international trophy. Antoine Griezmann managed six in seven games in 2016. Meanwhile, in 2012 the Golden Boot was shared by six players who all scored just three goals during the tournament hosted by Poland and Ukraine. And while there have been some big names to win Golden Boots over the years, surely no one will ever come close to matching Platini’s feat of nine…