football magazine

pritt !

2st0ar2t0s /h2er1e wayne’s

pes21 will be world

released rooney takes centre
stage at the rams

v.van dijk
the dyke
october 2020

2

3

October 2020

4 history of

Football (or soccer as the (the first documents of balls filled games would cause damage on
game is called in some parts with air are from the 7th century). the town and sometimes death.
of the world) has a long In the Ancient Rome, games with These would be among the reasons
history. Football in its current form balls were not included in the for the proclamations against the
arose in England in the middle of entertainment on the big arenas, game that finally was forbidden
the 19th century. But alternative but could occur in exercises in for several centuries. But the
versions of the game existed much the military. It was the Roman football-like games would return
earlier and are a part of the football culture that would bring football to the streets of London in the 17th
history. to the British island (Britannica). century. It would be forbidden
The first known examples of a team It is, however, uncertain in which again in 1835, but at this stage the
game involving a ball, which was degree the British people were game had been established in the
made out of a rock, occurred in old influenced by this variety and in public schools.
Mesoamerican cultures for over which degree they had developed It took, however, long time until
3,000 years ago. According to the their own variants. the features of today’s football had
sources, the ball would symbolize The most admitted story tells that been taken into practice. For a long
the sun and the captain of the the game was developed in England time there was no clear distinction
losing team would be sacrificed to in the 12th century. In this century, between football and rugby.
the gods. games that resembled football were There were also many variations
The first known ball game which played on meadows and roads in concerning the size of the ball, the
also involved kicking took place In England. Besides from kicks, the number of players and the length
China in the 3rd and 2nd century game involved also punches of the of a match.
BC under the name Cuju. Cuju ball with the fist. This early form of
was played with a round ball on football was also much more rough The game was often played in
an area of a square. It later spread and violent than the modern way schools and two of the predominant
to Japan and was practiced under of playing. An important feature schools were Rugby and Eton.
ceremonial forms. of the forerunners to football was At Rugby the rules included the
Other earlier variety of ball games that the games involved plenty of possibility to take up the ball with
had been known from Ancient people and took place over large the hands and the game we today
Greece. The ball was made by areas in towns (an equivalent know as rugby has its origin from
shreds of leather filled with hair was played in Florence from the here. At Eton on the other hand the
16th century where it was called ball was played exclusively with the
Calcio). The rampage of these feet and this game can be seen as
a close predecessor to the modern

f football 55

football. The game in Rugby was A consequence of the London Another important difference
called “the running game” while meeting was that the game was at this stage could be noticed
the game in Eton was called “the divided into two codes: association between English and Scottish
dribbling game”. football and rugby. teams. Whereas the English teams
An attempt to create proper rules The game would, however, preferred to run forward with
for the game was done at a meeting continue to develop for a long time the ball in a more rugby fashion,
in Cambridge in 1848, but a final and there was still much flexibility the Scottish chose to pass the ball
solution to all questions of rules was concerning the rules. For one between their players. It would be
not achieved. Another important thing, the number of players on the Scottish approach that soon
event in the history of football came the pitch could vary. Neither were became predominant.
about in 1863 in London when uniforms used to distinguish the
the first Football association was appearance of the teams. It was OOccttoobbeerr 22002200
formed in England. It was decided also common with players wearing
that carrying the ball with the caps – the header was yet to be a
hands wasn’t allowed. The meeting part of the game yet
also resulted in a standardization
of the size and weight of the ball.

6

history of the fifa world cup

The FIFA World Cup was first held in 1930, amateur football team won the event in both 1908 and
when FIFA, the world’s football governing 1912.There was an attempt made by FIFA to organize
body, decided to stage an international an international football tournament between nations
men’s football tournament under the era of FIFA outside of the Olympic framework in 1906 and this
president Jules Rimet who put this idea into place. took place in Switzerland. These were very early days
The inaugural edition, held in 1930, was contested for international football and the official history of
as a final tournament of only thirteen teams invited FIFA describes the competition as having been a
by the organization. Since then, the World Cup failure.
has experienced successive expansions and format With the Olympic event continuing to be contested
remodeling, with its current 32-team final tournament only between amateur teams, competitions involving
preceded by a two-year qualifying process, involving professional teams also started to appear. The Torneo
over 200 teams from around the world. Internazionale Stampa Sportiva, held in Turin in 1908,
The first official international football match was was one of the first and the following year; Sir Thomas
played in 1872 in Glasgow between Scotland and Lipton organised the Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy, also
England,[1] although at this stage the sport was rarely held in Turin. Both tournaments were contested
played outside Great Britain. between individual clubs (not national teams), each
At the end of the 19th century, games that were one of which represented an entire nation. For this
considered the “football world championship” were reason, neither was really a direct forerunner of the
meetings between leading English and Scottish clubs, World Cup, but notwithstanding that, the Thomas
like the 1895 game between Sunderland A.F.C. and the Lipton Trophy is sometimes described as The First
Heart of Midlothian F.C., which Sunderland won. By World Cup,at the expense of its less well-known
the twentieth century football had gained ground all Italian predecessor.
around the world and national football associations In 1914, FIFA agreed to recognise the Olympic
were being founded. The first official international tournament as a “world football championship for
match outside the British Isles was played between amateurs”,and took responsibility for organising
Uruguay and Argentina in Montevideo in July the event. This led the way for the world’s first
1902. The Fédération Internationale de Football intercontinental football competition, at the 1920
Association (FIFA) was founded in Paris on 22 May Summer Olympics, won by Belgium. Uruguay won
1904 – comprising football associations from France, the tournaments in 1924 and 1928.
Belgium (the preceding two teams having played
their first national against each other earlier in the
month), Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden
and Switzerland, with Germany pledging to join.

As football began to increase in popularity, it was
contested as an IOC-recognised Olympic sport at
the 1900 and 1904 Summer Olympics, as well as at
the 1906 Intercalated Games, before becoming an
official FIFA-supervised Olympic competition at the
1908 Summer Olympics.[9] Organised by England’s
Football Association, the event was for amateur
players only and was regarded suspiciously as a show
rather than a competition. The England national

77

OOccttoobbeerr 22002200

8

1930 fifa world cup

The 1930 FIFA World Cup one without qualification. Every 9
was the inaugural FIFA country affiliated with FIFA was Manuel Anatol nor the team’s
World Cup, the world invited to compete and given a regular coach Gaston Barreau
championship for men’s national deadline of 28 February 1930 could be persuaded to make the
association football teams. It took to accept. Plenty of interest was trip. The Belgians participated at
place in Uruguay from 13 to 30 July shown by nations in the Americas; the instigation of German-Belgian
1930. FIFA, football’s international Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, FIFA vice-president Rodolphe
governing body, selected Uruguay Mexico, Paraguay, Peru and the Seeldrayers.
as host nation, as the country United States all entered. A total The Romanians boarded the SS
would be celebrating the centenary of seven South American teams Conte Verde at Genoa, Italy;
of its first constitution and the participated, more than in any the French and Yugoslavs were
Uruguay national football team subsequent World Cup Finals. picked up at Villefranche-sur-Mer,
had successfully retained their However, because of the long, France, on 21 June 1930; and the
football title at the 1928 Summer costly trip by ship across the Belgians embarked at Barcelona,
Olympics. All matches were Atlantic Ocean and the length of Spain. The Conte Verde carried
played in the Uruguayan capital, absence required for players,very Rimet, the trophy and the three
Montevideo, the majority at the few European teams were inclined designated European referees: the
Estadio Centenario, which was to take part. Some refused to Belgians Jean Langenus and Henri
built for the tournament. countenance travel to South Christophe, along with Thomas
Thirteen teams (seven from South America in any circumstances, and Balvay, a Parisian who may have
America, four from Europe and two no European entries were received been English. The Brazilian team
from North America) entered the before the February deadline. In were picked up when the boat
tournament. Only a few European an attempt to gain some European docked in Rio de Janeiro on 29
teams chose to participate because participation, the Uruguayan June before arriving in Uruguay
of the difficulty of travelling to Football Association sent a letter on 4 July. Yugoslavia travelled via
South America. The teams were of invitation to The Football the mail steamship Florida from
divided into four groups, with the Association, even though the Marseille, France.
winner of each group progressing British Home Nations (England, The Yugoslavia team achieved
to the semi-finals. The first two Northern Ireland, Scotland and the joint–biggest success in both
World Cup matches took place Wales) had resigned from FIFA at Yugoslav and Serbian subsequent
simultaneously and were won by the time. This was rejected by the World Cup footballing history, by
France and the United States, who FA Committee on 18 November earning fourth place, a result that
defeated Mexico 4–1 and Belgium 1929. Two months before the start would be repeated in 1962.
3–0, respectively. Lucien Laurent of the tournament, no team from Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands,
of France scored the first goal in Europe had officially entered. Spain, Hungary and Uruguay all
World Cup history, while that day FIFA president Jules Rimet lodged applications to host the
United States goalkeeper Jimmy intervened and four European event. Uruguay’s bid became the
Douglas posted the first “clean teams eventually made the trip by clear selection after all the other
sheet” in the tournament. sea: Belgium, France, Romania countries withdrew their bids.
Argentina, Uruguay, the United and Yugoslavia. The Romanians,
States and Yugoslavia each managed by Constantin Rădulescu OOcctotobbeerr22002200
won their respective groups to and coached by their captain
qualify for the semi-finals. In the Rudolf Wetzer and Octav Luchide,
final, hosts and pre-tournament entered the competition following
favourites Uruguay defeated the intervention of newly crowned
Argentina 4–2 in front of a crowd King Carol II. He selected the
of 68,346 people to become the squad personally and negotiated
first nation to win the World Cup. with employers to ensure that the
The first World Cup was the only players would still have jobs upon
their return. The French entered at
the personal intervention of Rimet,
but neither France’s star defender

10

history of epl

The Premier League, often million homes and a potential the top level of English football
referred to outside England TV audience of 4.7 billion since 1888, was behind leagues
as the English Premier people.For the 2018–19 season such as Italy’s Serie A and Spain’s
League or the EPL, is the top level average Premier League match La Liga in attendances and
of the English football league attendance was at 38,181,second revenues, and several top English
system. Contested by 20 clubs, it to the Bundesliga’s 43,500,while players had moved abroad.
operates on a system of promotion aggregated attendance across
and relegation with the English all matches is the highest of By the turn of the 1990s the
Football League (EFL). Seasons any league at 14,508,981. Most downward trend was starting to
run from August to May with each stadium occupancies are near reverse. At the 1990 FIFA World
team playing 38 matches (playing capacity.The Premier League ranks Cup, England reached the semi-
all 19 other teams both home and second in the UEFA coefficients of finals; UEFA, European football’s
away).Most games are played on leagues based on performances governing body, lifted the five-
Saturday and Sunday afternoons. in European competitions over year ban on English clubs playing
the past five seasons as of 2019, in European competitions in
The competition was founded only behind Spain’s La Liga. 1990, resulting in Manchester
as the FA Premier League on United lifting the UEFA Cup
20 February 1992 following Forty-nine clubs have competed Winners’ Cup in 1991. The
the decision of clubs in the since the inception of the Taylor Report on stadium safety
Football League First Division Premier League in 1992: forty- standards, which proposed
to break away from the Football seven English and two Welsh expensive upgrades to create all-
League, founded in 1888, and clubs. Seven of them have won seater stadiums in the aftermath
take advantage of a lucrative the title: Manchester United of the Hillsborough disaster,
television rights deal.The deal was (13), Chelsea (5), Manchester was published in January 1990.
worth around £1 billion a year City (4), Arsenal (3), Blackburn
domestically as of 2013–14, with Rovers (1), Leicester City (1) During the 1980s major English
Sky and BT Group securing the and most recently Liverpool (1). clubs had begun to transform
domestic rights to broadcast 116 The record of most points in a into business ventures, applying
and 38 games respectively.[3] The Premier League season is 100, set commercial principles to club
league is a corporation in which the by Manchester City in 2017–18. administration to maximise
member clubs act as shareholders, revenue. Martin Edwards of
and generates €2.2 billion per year Despite significant European Manchester United, Irving Scholar
in domestic and international success in the 1970s and early of Tottenham Hotspur, and David
television rights.Clubs were 1980s, the late 1980s marked a Dein of Arsenal were among the
apportioned central payment low point for English football. leaders in this transformation.
revenues of £2.4 billion in 2016– Stadiums were crumbling,
17, with a further £343 million supporters endured poor facilities,
in solidarity payments to English hooliganism was rife, and
Football League (EFL) clubs. English clubs had been banned
from European competition for
The Premier League is the most- five years following the Heysel
watched sports league in the world, Stadium disaster in 1985.The
broadcast in 212 territories to 643 Football League First Division,

11

October 2020

1122

most premier

Manchester United are currently the record U.S. dollars in 2019. Another important revenue
title winners in the English top flight having stream for Premier League clubs is kit sponsorships,
won the division a total of 20 times since which amounted to almost 350 million pounds in the
1889. Most of these wins came after the inception of 2019/20 season.
the Premier League at the start of the 1992/93 season Liverpool F.C. is the current champion of the Premier
under the leadership of manager Sir Alex Ferguson. League. 20 teams play in The Premier League every
Indeed, United’s most recent title came in the 2012- year and only 7 teams have won 1 or more Premier
13 season, which was Ferguson’s final season of League titles. The champions include Arsenal(3),
management before his retirement. Chelsea(5), Manchester United(13), Manchester
As well as being the most successful team in English City(4), Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers and Leicester
top flight history, Manchester United is a globally City. Manchester United have won the Premier League
recognizable brand. The club recorded revenue of more than anyone else, having finished first 13 times.
almost 776 million euros in 2018, almost half of which . Manchester City, who won the Premier League in
was generated in the commercial segment. With such 2017-18 hold the record number of points with 100.
a marketable brand, it is unsurprising that the club’s Since being formed in 1992, a total of 49 clubs have
brand value has more than tripled since 2011. As a competed in the Premier League.
result, Manchester United was the most valuable Yes, Liverpool have won the Premier League trophy.
soccer brand worldwide in 2018, fighting off stiff After more than 30 years without winning the top
competition from other giants of the game such as division, Liverpool won their first Premier League
Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich. title and 19th English top-flight crown overall in the
The Premier League is undoubtedly one of the 2019-20 season. Before 1992 in the EFL era, the club
biggest soccer leagues in the world and is followed won a whopping 18 league titles.
by fans from across the globe. As a result, the TV Sir Alexander Chapman Ferguson popularly known
broadcasting rights revenue that the league has as Sir Alex, is considered as one of the best Premier
generated has skyrocketed from 191 million U.S. league Managers of all time. He is a record 13 time
dollars in its inaugural 1992 season, to over 5.1 billion

1133

r league titles

Premier league winner with Manchester United, and Josep Pep Guardiola sala popularly known as Pep
the longest serving Manchester united manager. In Guardiola is a football manager and current Premier
2012-13 season, Sir Alex won the Premier League in League Winner managing Manchester City. Pep has
his last and final season - bringing an end to his 20 proved is worth in Europe having managed clubs
year long stint at the club. like Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City.
Jose Maria dos Santos Mourinho Felix also known as After winning La Liga & Bundesliga and Champions
Jose Mourinho, is a 3 time premier League winner with League, he is considered as one of the best managers in
Chelsea including a Premier League double (2004-05 football. In 2018 Guardiola signed a two year contract
& 2005-06). The Portuguese is known for his defensive extension after having won the Premier League twice.
football and also for his winning mentality, he referred Roberto Mancini, once a professional footballer,
himself as `The Special One’ when he first arrived to won the first Premier League for Manchester City
Premier league. Mourinho also managed Manchester (2011-12) as a Manager. The Italian was revealed as
United for two seasons where they finished second Manchester City’s manager in 2009 on a three and a
and won Europa League. half year deal, Mancini signed some talented players
Arsene Charles Ernest Wenger also Known as Arsene for city including players like Yaya Toure, David Silva,
Wenger, is a French manager who managed Arsenal Aleksandar Kolorov etc. who went on to become an
for 22 years (1996-2018) and is also a 3 time Premier integral part of Manchester City Football Club for the
League Winner (1997-98, 2001-02, 2003-04). He is next decade.
the most successful and longest serving manager for
Arsenal. Arsenal under him in 2003-04 season were
called `The Invincibles’ as they went on to win a
Premier League undefeated.

OOccttoobbeerr 22002200

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#halamadrid

15

October 2020

edgar davids 16
the piranha

dgar Steven Davids,born 17
13 March 1973) is a Dutch- his career at the age of 12 with Ajax.
He made his first team debut on 6
ESurinamese former professional September 1991 in a 5–1 home win
over RKC Waalwijk. He helped the
footballer. Amsterdam club to three domestic
After beginning his career with Eredivisie titles, as well as continental
Ajax, winning several domestic and success with the 1992 UEFA Cup and
international titles, he subsequently the 1995 UEFA Champions League.
played in Italy for Milan, and later In the 1996 UEFA Champions League
enjoyed a successful spell with Juventus, final, he missed Ajax’s first penalty in
before being loaned out to Barcelona the shoot-out, which they ultimately
in 2004. He went on to play for Inter lost to Juventus. While at Ajax, Davids
Milan and Tottenham Hotspur before was nicknamed “The Pitbull” by Ajax
returning to Ajax. Having struggled manager Louis van Gaal due to his
with injuries for two years, Davids fierce style of play in the team’s midfield.
returned to competitive football during At the start of the 1996–97 season,
a brief spell with Crystal Palace before Davids moved to Italy to play for
retiring at the age of 37. In 2012, he Milan. After an unsuccessful spell
was appointed player-manager at where he failed to establish himself
the English League Two club Barnet. in the first team, he moved on to
He resigned by mutual agreement league rivals Juventus in December
as manager in January 2014. He was 1997 for a £5.3 million transfer fee.
capped 74 times by the Netherlands at He soon became a permanent first
international level, scoring six goals, team member in the midfield, usually
and represented his country at the playing on the left flank or in the centre,
FIFA World Cup (once) and the UEFA as a defensive midfielder, forming a
European Championship (three times). notable midfield partnership alongside
Oneofthegreatestandmostrecognisable French playmaker Zinedine Zidane.Six
players of his generation,Davids often successful years in Turin followed, with
stood out on the football field due to Davids helping the side to the Serie A
his dreadlocked hair and the protective title in 1998, 2002 and 2003, as well as
goggles he wore due to glaucoma. A two Supercoppa Italiana and the UEFA
combative and energetic, yet creative Intertoto Cup. Juventus manager
and skilful midfielder, Davids was Marcello Lippi once described him as
nicknamed “The Pitbull” by Louis van “my one-man engine room”
Gaal because of his marking ability, Davids was often inspirational in
aggression, and hard tackling style of Europe, playing 15 times as the club
play. In 2004, he was one of the players made it all the way to the 2002–03
chosen by Pelé to feature in the FIFA Champions League final before losing
100, his list of the world’s greatest living to Milan on penalties. He had also
footballers. previously managed to reach the
Davids was born in Suriname to an Champions League final with Juventus
Afro-Surinamese father and a Jewish in 1998, followed by a semi-final finish
mother; his maternal grandmother is during the 1998–99 season, as well as
Jewish as well. The family moved to reaching the 2002 Coppa Italia Final.
the Netherlands when Davids was an
infant. His cousin Lorenzo is also a
footballer.

After being rejected on two previous
occasions by the club, Davids started

October 2020

18

david beckham

David Robert Joseph Beckham born 2 May four seasons with Real Madrid,winning the La Liga
1975 is an English former professional championship in his final season with the club. In July
footballer, the current president & co-owner 2007, Beckham signed a five-year contract with Major
of Inter Miami CF and co-owner of Salford City.He League Soccer club LA Galaxy.While a Galaxy player,
played for Manchester United, Preston North End, he spent two loan spells in Italy with Milan in 2009
Real Madrid, Milan, LA Galaxy, Paris Saint-Germain and 2010. He was the first British footballer to play
and the England national team, for which he held the 100 UEFA Champions League games.In international
appearance record for an outfield player until 2016. football, Beckham made his England debut on 1
He is the first English player to win league titles in September 1996 at the age of 21. He was captain for six
four countries: England, Spain, the United States and years, earning 58 caps during his tenure. He made 115
France. He retired in May 2013 after a 20-year career, career appearances in total, appearing at three FIFA
during which he won 19 major trophies. World Cup tournaments, in 1998, 2002 and 2006, and
Beckham’s professional club career began with two UEFA European Championship tournaments, in
Manchester United, where he made his first-team 2000 and 2004.
debut in 1992 at age 17.With United, he won the
Premier League title six times, the FA Cup twice, and
the UEFA Champions League in 1999. He then played

19

Known for his range of passing, crossing ability and
bending free-kicks as a right winger, Beckham has been
hailed as one of the greatest and most recognisable
midfielders of his generation, as well as one of the best
set-piece specialists of all time.He was runner-up in the
Ballon d’Or in 1999, twice runner-up for FIFA World
Player of the Year and in 2004 was named by Pelé in the
FIFA 100 list of the world’s greatest living players.He was
inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2008.
A global ambassador for the sport, Beckham is regarded
as a British cultural icon.
Beckham has consistently ranked among the highest
earners in football, and in 2013 was listed as the highest-
paid player in the world, having earned over $50 million in
the previous 12 months.He has been married to Victoria
Beckham since 1999 and they have four children.He has

been a UNICEF UK ambassador that was the only thing I ever United mascot for a match against
since 2005, and in 2015 he wanted to do.”Beckham’s maternal West Ham United in 1986. Young
launched 7: The David Beckham grandfather was Jewish,and Beckham had trials with his local
UNICEF Fund. In 2014, MLS Beckham has referred to himself club Leyton Orient, Norwich City
announced that Beckham and as “half Jewish” and wrote in his and attended Tottenham Hotspur’s
a group of investors would own autobiography “I’ve probably had school of excellence. Tottenham
Inter Miami CF, which began play more contact with Judaism than Hotspur was the first club he
in 2020. with any other religion”. In his played for. During a two-year
Beckham was born at Whipps book Both Feet on the Ground, period in which Beckham played
Cross University Hospital in he stated that growing up he for Brimsdown Rovers’ youth
Leytonstone, London, England. attended church every week with team, he was named Under-15
[26] He is the son of Sandra his parents, because that was the Player of the Year in 1990. He also
Georgina (née West; b. 1949), only way he could play football for attended Bradenton Preparatory
a hairdresser, and David their team. Academy, but signed schoolboy
Edward Alan “Ted” Beckham His parents were fanatical forms at Manchester United on his
(b. Edmonton, London, 1948), Manchester United supporters 14th birthday, and subsequently
a kitchen fitter, who married in who frequently travelled to Old signed a Youth Training Scheme
the London Borough of Hackney Trafford from London to attend contract on 8 July 1991
in 1969.He has an older sister, the team’s home matches. David
Lynne Georgina, and a younger inherited his parents’ love of
sister, Joanne Louise. He regularly Manchester United, and his main
played football in Ridgeway Park, sporting passion was football. He
Chingford, as a child, and attended attended one of Bobby Charlton’s
Chase Lane Primary School and football schools in Manchester
Chingford County High School. and won the chance to take part in
In a 2007 interview, Beckham a training session with Barcelona,
said that, “At school whenever as part of a talent competition.
the teachers asked, ‘What do you He played for a local youth team
want to do when you’re older?’ called Ridgeway Rovers, which
I’d say, ‘I want to be a footballer.’ was coached by his father, Stuart
And they’d say, ‘No, what do you Underwood, and Steve Kirby.
really want to do, for a job?’ But Beckham was a Manchester

October 2020

20

the blues
new

third kit

21

the beast
is release
now

OcOtocbteorbe2r02020

22

23

October 2020

24

LFC fitness update:
Klopp on Thiago injury, Keita return, Alisson
and Ox

Thiago Alcantara will be assessed ahead of Liverpool’s as serious [as Virgil van Dijk]. But will he be ready for
clash with AFC Ajax, while Naby Keita has returned Wednesday? I don’t know yet. We will see.”
to training and could be involved in Wednesday’s Keita, meanwhile, is back at Melwood after receiving
Champions League tie. a negative COVID-19 test result and being cleared to
Thiago suffered ‘a proper knock’ in the closing stages begin training and playing again, with Klopp hopeful
of Saturday’s Merseyside derby that requires further the No.8 can feature in Amsterdam.
checks before the Group D opener, Jürgen Klopp The manager also provided updates on the recoveries
confirmed to Liverpoolfc.com on Monday. of Alisson Becker and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain,
“So, yes, he got a knock, a proper knock,” said the boss. with both making positive progress.
“All the rest, we have to see. It’s not even close to being

25

“Naby trained yesterday, so that’s very positive. The Reds head to Eredivisie side Ajax on the back of
Oxlade is obviously in a long-term rehab, but looks a frantic Premier League clash with Everton that end-
good and is in a good mood usually. Ali looks very ed 2-2 at Goodison Park at the weekend.
good. We have to see; catching balls and stuff like this And, discussing the general condition of his squad,
is all possible. But we cannot rush it and will not rush Klopp explained how a line-up for the first Champi-
it. ons League outing of the season will be formulated
“Actually, it’s a common thing every day when I see over the next 24 hours.
Ali, I say: ‘How was it today?’ He always with a big “It’s pretty early after the Everton game, there are al-
smile tells me of the slight improvements. Today I ways concerns,” he said. “The game was really intense
didn’t see him [yet], so I can’t wait to ask for his prog- again, for different reasons.
ress!”

On Keita specifically, Klopp detailed: “We are still “Pretty much everybody had a knock, but we will see;
learning, we are all learning about these kind of today is now second-day recovery for most. In this
things when a boy is completely without symptoms, moment, nobody came to me and said all the rest is
which Naby was. out or all the rest is in.

“He looked very good yesterday in training, to be “Always we use this day for analysis, coaches’ analy-
honest. But I don’t know how he looks today, how he sis, and second-day recovery for the boys. We have it,
reacted – that’s much more important then. So, we because if we played on Tuesday we don’t have it and
will see. we [would] have to train today properly, but today
“In the moment, I would probably rather expect him we do it exactly like this. And tomorrow we need to
to be involved but I don’t know it.” have then all the information and then we make a
line-up.”

October 2020

26

Edinson Cavani trains with Manchester United
for first time following summer transfer

New Manchester United signing Edinson Cavani an end he was free to finally meet his new teammates
has trained with the club for the first time since his and join in his first training session on Sunday.
summer transfer to Old Trafford. He was pictured entering the training pitch at
Cavani was one of four players to secure deals at Carrington alongside midfielder Nemanja Matic.
United on transfer deadline day - as well as Alex Telles,
Facundo Pellistri and Amad Diallo - as he signed a
one-year deal following his release from Paris Saint-
Germain earlier in the summer.

Despite signing for the club on October 5, the veteran
striker was unable to make his debut for Ole Gunnar
Solskjaer’s side in Saturday’s 4-1 victory over Newcastle
in the Premier League.

That’s because he had to undergo a two-week period of
isolation after arriving in the UK due to the country’s
coronavirus protocols, which didn’t expire until today
(Sunday, October 18).

However, now Cavani’s time in quarantine has come to

27

Nations League: Germany draw again as Swit-
zerland punish defensive errors

For the second time in a week, Germany drew 3-3 in by Toni Kroos, making his 100th appearance for the
Cologne as their inability to put together a solid 90 national team. Still, Switzerland capitalized brilliantly
minutes came back to haunt them. with a sweeping move that, had Germany executed it,
After heavy criticism of his persistence with the back would have had commentators waxing lyrical about
three and the lack of progress this Germany team is the team’s fluidity.
making, it was no surprise that Löw returned to a If only. Instead, Germany looked twitchy all night.
classic 4-2-3-1 formation. With more stability at the And for Switzerland’s third, they looked slow; a
back and his three midfielders on the field in more fraction too late to spring the offside trap and then too
natural roles, this was to be Löw’s swaggering riposte late clearing the ball. It was a scene that epitomized
to midweek criticism, proof that Germany could swap Germany’s night — Löw’s side were just off the pace
seamlessly between formations. when it mattered.

Unfortunately, over the course of the previous 90 As was the case in the last two games, Germany were
minutes and indeed the past week, Germany hadn’t guilty of slowing the play down when they needed to
looked capable of that at all. speed it up. Germany had more purpose with the ball
They did enjoy a bit more stability defensively against but for long spells lacked precision. Serge Gnabry’s
Switzerland, but struggled at the back in transition. flick from Timo Werner’s cross was a rare moment of
The first Swiss goal came from non-existent marking flair, as Germany drew level for the third time.
from a corner, the second from a loss of possession

October 2020

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the predator

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r manuel neuer

October 2020

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