International Football
The FIFA Confederations Cup in Numbers
118 – is the number of clubs from 30 different countries that are represented at Russia 2017. Bayer Leverkusen, Porto, Spartak Moscow, Sporting Lisbon and Wellington Phoenix lead the way with five players apiece.
100 – is the per cent of Russia’s players come from the country’s domestic league. Cameroon’s squad, by contrast, is comprised entirely of overseas-based players.
38 – is the number of years and four months is the age that makes Rafa Marquez the oldest player at Russia 2017. If fielded, the Mexico stalwart will become the second-oldest player in Confederations Cup history, behind Ali Boumnijel, who took to the field at the age of 39 years and two months in 2005. Marquez is also the only player at Russia 2017 who has already lifted this trophy.
36 – is the number of years and 98 days old is the age at which Anthony Hudson will become the Confederations Cup’s youngest-ever coach when he takes charge of the All Whites in their opening match. The record currently belongs to former Nigeria coach Shaibu Amodu, who was 36 years and 263 days old when he managed the Super Eagles at the 1995 edition.
29 years and one month is the average age of the Chile squad, making it the oldest ever seen at a Confederations Cup. Germany have taken a different approach altogether, selecting Russia 2017’s most youthful squad with an average age of just 24 years and four months.
18 – is the number of years old Dale Ingham could become the second-youngest player ever seen at a Confederations Cup. His New Zealand team-mate at Russia 2017, Chris Wood, holds the record, having played at South Africa 2009 six months after turning 17.
7 – is the number of editions of the Confederations Cup is the milestone Mexico will reach in Russia, taking them level with Brazil’s record tally. El Tri are the only previous winners among the eight teams vying for the title this year.
4 – is the number of Confederations Cup titles (1997, 2005, 2009, 2013) have comfortably established Brazil as the tournament’s most successful team. France, winners in 2002 and 2003, are the only other team to have won the competition more than once. Brazil have also won far more Confederations Cup matches than any other team, with 23 victories putting them 14 clear of second-placed Mexico and France.
3 – is the number of European teams will compete at Russia 2017: the hosts, world champions Germany and UEFA EURO winners Portugal. This is the first Confederations Cup to involve three teams from the same confederation.
3 – of the nine Confederations Cups to date have been won by the host nation: Mexico in 1999, France in 2003 and Brazil in 2015. Can Russia make it four from ten?
0 – number of foreign coaches have led their country to glory at the Confederations Cup. Half of the men in charge at Russia 2017 – not to mention the fans of Cameroon, Chile, Mexico and New Zealand – will be hoping to see that statistic consigned to the rubbish bin on 2 July.
International Football
Former Brazil coach Tite taking break to take care of mental, physical health
Former Brazil coach Tite said he is taking an indefinite career break in order to take care of his mental and physical health.
The 63-year-old, who led Brazil to the 2019 Copa America title, was hospitalised due to a heart issue last August. He was sacked by Flamengo the following month and had most recently been linked with the Corinthians job.
“I realised that there are times when you have to understand that, as a human being, I can be vulnerable and admitting that will certainly make me stronger,” Tite said in a statement posted on his son Matheus Bachi’s Instagram on Tuesday.
“I’m passionate about what I do and I’ll continue to be so, but after talking to my family and observing the signals my body was giving off, I decided that the best thing to do now is to take a break from my career to look after myself for as long as it takes.
“As has become public, there was a conversation in progress with Corinthians, but it will have to be paralysed by a difficult but necessary decision.”
Tite, who stepped down as Brazil coach after their quarter-final exit from the 2022 World Cup, has previously coached a string of Brazilian sides including Gremio, Atletico Mineiro and Palmeiras.
-Reuters
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Brazil have sacked head coach Dorival Jr, the country’s football confederation (CBF) said on Friday after the five-time world champions were thrashed 4-1 away to fierce rivals Argentina in a humiliating qualifying loss in Buenos Aires.
The 62-year-old was appointed in January 2024 after the team spent a year under two caretaker coaches as the Brazilian FA were unable to lure Italian Carlo Ancelotti from Real Madrid.
“The Brazilian Football Confederation informs that coach Dorival Jr is no longer in charge of the Brazilian national team,” the confederation said in a statement.
“The management thanks (Dorival) and wishes him success in continuing his career … the CBF will work to find his replacement,” it added.
Dorival was handed the job after his success with Flamengo in 2022 where he won the Copa Libertadores and Brazilian Cup, a trophy he lifted again the next year with Sao Paulo.
However, he never seemed to get to grips with the national team job and failed to earn the trust of Brazil’s demanding fans after winning only seven of his 16 games in charge.
Sources told Reuters the CBF was not confident in Dorival’s work, considering there had been little to no progress since a lacklustre Copa America campaign when Brazil were knocked out in the quarter-finals by Uruguay last year.
Still, the CBF was willing to wait and see until the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay in June to reassess the situation following the end of the European season and the Club World Cup in the U.S. in June and July.
But after Brazil slumped to their heaviest-ever loss in a qualifier when they were thrashed by Argentina this week, CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues decided to pull the trigger.
IDEAL CANDIDATE
Sources told Reuters Ancelotti was still the ideal candidate but he is under contract with Real until July 2026 and there is no indication he would leave the European and Spanish champions.
Brazilian media have reported that Al Hilal’s Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus is the favourite to replace Dorival.
Brazil have been in unfamiliar territory for over two years since crashing out of the 2022 World Cup against Croatia on penalties in the quarter-finals, a heartbreaking elimination that led to the exit of long-time manager Tite.
Their humbling defeat in Buenos Aires was the latest of a series of negative records Brazil have set under caretakers Ramon Menezes and Fernando Diniz and with Dorival in charge. They had never conceded four goals in a World Cup qualifier.
Brazil are in the midst of their worst-ever World Cup qualifying campaign. They are fourth in the South American standings with 21 points, a point above sixth-placed Colombia who currently occupy the final direct qualifying berth.
Never have Brazil lost so many games, conceded so many goals or set so many negative records in the qualifying competition. They have lost five of their 14 games and conceded 16 goals.
Brazil’s 1-0 defeat by Argentina in the Maracana late in 2023 was their first-ever qualifying loss on home soil.
They also lost to Colombia for the first time, saw the end of their unbeaten run against Uruguay stretching back over two decades and were defeated by Morocco and Senegal, having never previously lost to an African nation.
-Reuters
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International Football
England’s German manager Tuchel will not sing the English anthem in his first game
England manager Thomas Tuchel said he would have to “earn the right” to sing the national anthem, God Save the King, after announcing his 26-man squad on Friday ahead of the team’s World Cup qualifiers.
Tuchel, who was appointed as Gareth Southgate’s successor in October and named his first squad to face Albania and Latvia this month, said he would not sing the anthem in his first games in charge.
“It means a lot to me, I can assure you, but I can feel that because it is so meaningful and it is so emotional and it is so powerful, the national anthem, that I have to earn my right to sing it,” the 51-year-old German told a news conference.
Former caretaker manager Lee Carsley was criticised last year for not singing the anthem during his tenure.
However, Tuchel added that while he is proud to be in charge of the team and knows the words to the anthem, he plans to earn the right with results.
“Maybe I have to dive more into the culture and earn my right from you, from the players, from the supporters, so everyone feels like ‘he should sing it now, he’s one of our own, he’s the English manager, he should sing it’,” he said.
-Reuters
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