Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 98 i Soccer 360 Magazine

Fernando Santos has been public enemy No. 1 for quite some time, especially with his side’s recent short comings in the previous European Championship. While he loves to stick with his conventional 4-4-2 and 4-3-3 tactics, many pundits, analysts, and even fans have called for him to adopt a 3-5-2 formation, which would better serve his squad given their strength in fullbacks. With the explosiveness and speed that João Cancelo and Nuno Mendes possess on the flanks, mixed with the creativity and hunger that Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Renato Sanches, and João Palhinha all hold, the setup would allow for this type of talent to play in their preferred positions. With an abundance of riches at virtually every position, Santos has the key to unlock Portugal’s hopes of potentially lifting…

‘THE SIGHT OF CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN MAKING HIS DEBUT FOR BRENTFORD WAS GENUINELY UPLIFTING’ THE GOOD To the millions of people around the world who watched on in horror at the events at Copenhagen’s Parken Stadium on that Saturday in June 2021 when Christian Eriksen suffered a near-fatal cardiac arrest on the pitch during Denmark’s opening Euro 2020 clash with Finland, it was simply an immense relief that his life was saved. At the time, the idea of the star playmaker even resuming his career seemed rather fanciful, let alone being back performing at the top level within a matter of months. However, sometimes miracles do happen both in sport and in life, and so the sight of him making his debut for Brentford as a substitute against Newcastle United on…

Inter Milan cult hero Adriano was on the stands for Copa Italia’s semifinal Derby Della Madonnina between Inter and Milan. The Brazilian was invited by Inter as their guest of honor. Adriano won four Serie A titles with Inter between 2004 and 2009. He was tipped to be one of the best center-forwards of all time, but his career was derailed by depression following the death of his father. Lautaro Martínez has been involved in each of the last three goals scored during the first five minutes of play in the Milan derbies (two goals and one assist). Ian Wright was impressed by Tammy Abraham’s assist against Napoli and the Roma striker thanked the Arsenal legend on social media. The Giallorossi stretched their unbeaten run to 12 Serie A games…

DAVID BECKHAM - MANCHESTER UNITED TO REAL MADRID Former England captain Beckham joined Los Blancos in 2003 after finding himself on the wrong end of a stray boot kicked in his direction by Sir Alex Ferguson in the United dressing room. Beckham’s class eventually shone through in Madrid with a 2007 La Liga title for the Galactico star. RUUD VAN NISTELROOY - MANCHESTER UNITED TO REAL MADRID Van Nistelrooy followed Beckham’s path in the summer of 2006 after a falling out with Ferguson effectively ended his Old Trafford career. Two league titles in Madrid, and the La Liga Golden Boot in 2006-07, gives him an edge on Beckham as another ‘one that got away’ under the legendary Old Trafford boss. EMMANUEL ADEBAYOR - MANCHESTER CITY TO REAL MADRID Adebayor’s most…

MARTIN TERRIER - RENNES The 25-year-old has been having an outstanding season so far as Rennes have proven to be one of the surprise packages in Ligue 1. Terrier’s performances have been a big part of their success, and as such, he could potentially represent a relatively affordable option for Dortmund to bolster their strike force this summer. DARWIN NÚÑEZ - BENFICA Although Benfica won’t be able to win the Primeira Liga title this season, leading scorer Núñez has been generating quite a bit of buzz in Europe. The 22-year-old Uruguayan international is enjoying his best season in his nascent career, and this has garnered considerable attention from some of Europe’s biggest clubs. While Dortmund will face an uphill battle to secure his signature, receiving a good price for Haaland…

‘COSTA ALSO PROVIDES THE GALAXY WITH INTERNATIONAL EXPOSURE’ When Douglas Costa opted to make the move across the pond and try a new experience in Major League Soccer, many were left wondering what the 31-year-old was still able to bring to the table following his rather unsuccessful loan spell with Gremio in Brazil. The veteran hadn’t exactly been obliterating the opposition in his native land, scoring three goals and providing just two assists in 26 appearances for Gremio. However, it has become abundantly clear that the Galaxy believe in the winger considering they have signed him as a Designated Player through the 2023 season. “Douglas is a world-class player and a proven champion at the highest level. His capacity to create and finish will add yet another level to our…

FITTING TRIBUTE Manchester City unveiled a statue of their all-time leading goalscorer Sergio Aguero outside the Etihad Stadium on the 10th anniversary of his title-clinching goal against Queens Park Rangers. That goal won City their first league title in 44 years. Aguero scored 260 goals for the club over 10 seasons, helping them win five Premier League trophies, one FA Cup and six League Cups. The 33-year-old left Manchester at the end of last season and joined Barcelona on a free transfer, but was forced to retire soon after due to a heart condition. IN SEARCH OF… The Bayern Munich World Squad project is back for a second time after the global project was a big success following its launch last year. Talented Under-19 players from around the world will…

‘ENGLAND HAVE BEEN DRAWN ALONGSIDE THE UNITED STATES, IRAN AND ONE OF SCOTLAND, WALES OR UKRAINE’ When the draw for the 2022 World Cup took place on April 1 the biggest headline to emerge was, ironically, the absence of any major headlines. Unlike many previous editions of the tournament, this year’s draw failed to form a so-called ‘group of death’, nor did it pit many old rivals against one another. What has emerged from the draw, however, is the opportunity for many of the less historically successful nations to pass beyond the group stage. Take, for example, the newly crowned Africa Cup of Nations champions Senegal who have qualified for only their third ever World Cup. The Lions of Teranga have been drawn into Group A, meaning they face hosts…

THE BIGGEST SURPRISE IS CANADA, WHO WILL BE MAKING THEIR FIRST APPEARANCE SINCE 1986. 10.) NORTH AMERICA IS AT THE TOP OF THE TABLE For the first time in CONCACAF World Cup Qualification history, all three automatic spots will be coming out of North America with Canada, Mexico, and the United States advancing to Qatar. Of the three sides, the biggest surprise is Canada, who will be making their first appearance since 1986. 9.) MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR OPPORTUNITIES Canada’s story is perhaps the most CONCACAF-y of CONCACAF stories. The side was originally slated to be placed in a second-tier bracket where their best chance of qualifying would come via a playoff against the first-tier bracket and then an intercontinental playoff. But with the COVID-19 pandemic, the federation had…

Ralf Rangnick admitted that Manchester United were "humiliated" by rivals Liverpool once again as the manager conceded that the club’s longtime rivals are "six years" ahead of the Red Devils. Man Utd were once again battered by Liverpool, as they followed up a 5-0 loss to the Reds earlier this season with a 4-0 defeat at Anfield. Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette has revealed he had misconceptions about former teammate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang before the Gabon international arrived at Arsenal. The French attacker was signed by the Gunners in 2017 from Lyon, six months before the Aubameyang joined him at the club from Bundesliga outfit Borussia Dortmund. The two became good friends at the club later on and Lacazette insists Aubameyang’s social media activities don’t reflect his real personality. Manchester United have…

"AUBAMEYANG HAS ENJOYED AN INSTANT REVIVAL UNDER XAVI" ‘AUBAMEYANG’S ROLE ON THE LEFT OF A FRONT THREE SEEMS TO HAVE REIGNITED HIS BEST FORM’ Barcelona pulled off one of the biggest shocks of the January transfer window, as new boss Xavi made a bold move for Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The veteran striker had seen his relationship with Mikel Arteta completely deteriorate at the back end of 2021, after being stripped of the captaincy by the Basque coach for returning late from an authorised trip to France. Arteta’s hard-line approach towards his star man saw him removed from the first team and it was initially greeted with a mixed response from Gunners fans as they pushed for a return to the Premier League elite. However, a positive season in North…

‘XAVI IS DETERMINED TO CREATE HIS VERSION OF BARCELONA 2.0’ THE GOOD Game really does recognize game when it comes to Barcelona FC and the return of club legend Xavi to the Camp Nou has fitted like a hand in a glove in 2022. Despite the old cliches surrounding his decision to head back to Catalonia, the former La Blaugrana boss is looking forwards, and not backwards, as he aims to bring the club back to the top table. The club’s policy of hiring former iconic players as managers has generally yielded success (minus his predecessor Ronald Koeman) with Johan Cruyff, Frank Rijkaard and Pep Guardiola all dominating by adopting the ‘Barcelona Way’. While Xavi has not abandoned the club’s incredible history, and famed talent production line, the 42-year-old has…

‘HAALAND’S AGENT WILL DEFINITELY BE STEERING HIS CLIENT TOWARDS THE PREMIER LEAGUE OR LA LIGA’ ‘LEWANDOWSKI MAY LOOK FOR A NEW CHALLENGE THIS SUMMER’ Every summer transfer window has its fair share of “will he or won’t he?” stories regarding players who might be on the move, and Erling Haaland is, once again, among those that has fans and pundits buzzing. Partially thanks to his vocal agent Mino Raiola stoking the flames as he is well known to do to drive up interest in his clients, but mainly due to his undisputed talent, it is no surprise that the 21-year-old is a target of numerous big clubs across Europe. That’s despite Haaland struggling with numerous injuries that have kept him out of the Borussia Dortmund side for periods of this…

‘THE BUNDESLIGA HAS BECOME A BUCKET LIST CHOICE FOR FANS’ THE GOOD Bundesliga matches have attracted growing worldwide attention in the last decade as the German top-flight works overtime to present itself as a fan-focused league with supporters at the heart of it. The idea behind a ‘stripping back’ of certain unpleasant aspects of the matchday experience, has presented the Bundesliga as a refreshing option for fans, in a sport which is continually becoming more financially driven, and distanced from supporters. From the iconic scenes of the Yellow Wall, at Borussia Dortmund’s Signal Iduna Park, to their fervent opposition to the European Super League, the Bundesliga has become a bucket list choice for football fans. The positivity behind German football and fan enjoyment was backed up by hard data in…

LORENZO INSIGNE - TORONTO FC While he is still with Napoli trying to help them win their first Scudetto since the days of Diego Maradona, the signing of Lorenzo Insigne by Toronto FC cannot be understated. It’s a massive pick up for a club looking to get back to the success that they had during the days of Sebastian Giovinco and Jozy Altidore. DOUGLAS COSTA-LOS ANGELES GALAXY After struggling the last couple of seasons to find a permanent home, the Brazilian opted to make the move to MLS and join the most successful franchise in league history as a Designated Player. He has adjusted well to his new surroundings so far and could make a real impact on Greg Vanney’s side. JESÚS JIMÉNEZ - TORONTO FC The Spanish striker joined…

‘CANADA CAN GO INTO THIS WORLD CUP WITH ABSOLUTELY NO FEAR’ THE GOOD The Canadian men’s national team didn't just qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1986, they did it in emphatic fashion by topping the CONCACAF qualification table. In finishing ahead of both Mexico and the United States, who are ranked ninth and 13th in the world respectively, the Canadians proved they are no longer anybody’s little brother. Les Rouges drew with both Mexico and the United States on the road, while pulling off massive victories on home soil against both sides. Although they did lose two of their last three games of qualification, the Canadians already knew the job had been done by then. "We can go into this World Cup with absolutely no…

Did you know that since donning the colours of his nation (2003), Cristiano Ronaldo has yet to miss out on a single international tournament, holding a perfect qualification record in the process (10/10). Cristiano Ronaldo will be featuring in his fifth World Cup and his tenth major tournament for the Portuguese National Football Team. If fortunate, he will become the first player in the history of the FIFA World Cup to record a goal in five tournaments. While it’s unlikely that he matches Miroslav Klose’s World Cup goal-scoring record (16), it’s more than realistic to expect Ronaldo to set a new high in total international appearances by a footballer, which is currently led by Kuwait’s Bader Al-Mutawa (192). At 186 appearances, Ronaldo only needs seven more caps to surpass Al-Mutawa’s…

Football has always been a money game. The haves and the have-nots. But never has competition in European football been so intrinsically linked to a club’s bank balance. The dawn of the Champions League and Premier League era has been heralded for the perceived improvement of the game as a whole, but it’s been to the huge detriment of countless clubs and leagues across the continent too. The money has poured in, with state ownership causing huge damage to European football and putting even greater distance between the haves and have-nots. For many, the two main culprits are Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain. The reason for this is that these two clubs have inflated football’s financial market beyond most people’s wildest imaginations. The Abu Dhabi United Group’s takeover of City…

“IT WILL BE UP TO MAX ALLEGRI NOW TO DEVELOP A GAME PLAN THAT CAN GET THE VERY BEST OUT OF VLAHOVIC.” "VLAHOVIC IS SET TO APPEAR IN THE 2022 WORLD CUP IN QATAR LATER THIS YEAR FOR SERBIA" Dusan Vlahovic was named Serie A’s best young player in 2020-21 and hit the ground running at the start of this season, prompting Juventus to splash the cash to sign the youngster from Fiorentina in January. An impressive start to life in Turin has only helped to cement his emergence as one of Europe’s outstanding strikers, and further enhance his meteoric rise to the top; one which began in relative obscurity. Vlahovic made his professional debut in February 2016 at the age of 16 for Partizan Belgrade in the Serbian SuperLiga,…

‘FIKAYO TOMORI HAS BEEN A REVELATION FOR MILAN THE GOOD Milan’s greatest domestic and European achievements were built on impregnable backlines with Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Nesta unequivocally considered greats of the modern game. Fiyako Tomori and Pierre Kalulu may never join such exalted company but the unlikely central defensive partnership has been integral to the Rossoneri’s quest for an elusive Serie A title. The trophy-laden halcyon days of Milan success in the late 1990s and early 2000s are distant memories yet Tomori and Kalulu resemble something of a throwback to a past era. England international Tomori, 24, has been a revelation; a combination of old-fashioned toughness, ready to sacrifice his body in the tackle and a tactfully astute distributor with an athletic turn of pace. Kalulu, 21,…

The eventual departure of Lionel Messi ahead of the 2021/22 season unmasked over a decade of deep-rooted financial mismanagement behind the scenes at Barcelona. Barcelona’s inability to register Messi’s extension - even with a 50% wage drop for their iconic captain - would have broken La Liga rules due to their awfully bloated wage bill, if Messi signed. Despite a rush to offload big earning squad players, the dye was cast, and Messi brought down the curtain on his incredible, era-defining Barcelona career. The following civil war saw new president Joan Laporta firmly lay the blame with his predecessor Josep Bartomeu, as he claimed the club needed a total financial overhaul. Senior stars followed Messi’s initial lead by agreeing to salary cuts, to balance the books, and bring Barcelona’s operating…

Joaquin Sanchez has suffered his 200th defeat in La Liga 596 matches - W240 D156), the first player to reach this milestone in the history of the competition (Jose Ramon Esnaola-178 losses). A Barcelona supporters' group boycotted the team’s game against Cadiz in La Liga because of their Europa League loss against Eintracht Frankfurt. The Grada d’Animacio announced the action as they hit out at the club for allowing around 30,000 Eintracht Frankfurt fans into Camp Nou as the Spanish side lost 3-2 at home to go crashing out of the tournament. Valencia have only attempted five shots in their game against Villarreal, their lowest tally in a single LaLiga away game this season. Isco has hit back at a fan’s suggestion he has been leaking Real Madrid’s starting XI…

ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI - BAYERN MUNICH Although it’s hard for some to imagine Robert Lewandowski and Bayern Munich parting ways, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility. For starters, the Polish international will be 34 this summer, and time is running out if he wishes to challenge himself outside of Germany, where he’s won everything a player could win at club level. As such, he might opt to try to make a switch, with Barcelona having been bandied about in the press as a potential suitor. ANTHONY MODESTE - FC KÖLN Modeste has played a significant role in keeping his side afloat, but some reports indicate that despite him having a contract until June 2023, the former French under-21 international could be on the move this summer. A big part of…

Julian Nagelsmann says he has had around 450 death threats in the wake of Bayern Munich’s Champions League elimination. Bayern were knocked out at the quarter-final stage this week after losing to Villarreal. The coach revealed that he has received abuse on Instagram since their loss and added that his mother is also being targeted. Bayern Munich CEO Oliver Kahn stressed that contract negotiations are not "like an online manager game" as the club remain in discussions with Robert Lewandowski amid the striker’s uncertain future. Lewandowski’s contract is set to expire in 2023, and the forward has been linked heavily with a move to Barcelona in recent weeks. But Kahn says that the two sides have a lot of negotiating to do before anything is finalised as Bayern fully expect…

Made her mark with Manchester City where she lifted the Women’s Super League trophy before mastering tiki-taka football with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. The striker has seen it all. From Champions League finals to World Cup medals. Duggan has played with some of the world’s best footballers in recent years, or more importantly: they’ve had the chance to play with her. They say winners aren’t born; they’re made. But in the case of Duggan, she was always meant to be a footballer. More than that, she was always meant to be a game changer. “Wanting to be a professional footballer when I did, not many people really understood why I’d choose that type of life for myself. Women’s football wasn’t really ‘recognised’ at that time. It wasn’t on the television,…

For a sport where low scores are common, football does seem to love its big numbers. While it is certainly more common for a men’s football match to hit 91,553 fans for one game, for women’s football it carries a whole different meaning. The match itself was a brilliant display of football and for the growth that the Spanish game has had in recent years. The two sides traded leads early with Mapi Leon (8’) scoring for Barcelona and Olga Garcia (16’) and Claudia Zornzona (46’) scoring for Madrid. But Barcelona, the defending UEFA Champions League winners, stormed ahead with goals from Aitana Conca (52’), Claudia Pina (55’), Alexia Putella (62’), and Caroline Hansen (70’). While Barcelona’s scoring output was certainly noteworthy, so to was the resolve of the young…