International Football
LIKE TROUSSIER & SHAIBU, SERBIA’S MUSLIN BECOMES FIRST WORLD CUP-BOUND COACH TO GET THE BOOT
Serbia’s coach, Slavoljub Muslin has become the first victim to be fired among coaches who qualified teams for the Russia 2018 World Cup.
He was on Monday fired in a shock move which came three weeks after the 64-year old journeyman steered the Balkan nation to the 2018 World Cup, their first major tournament in eight years.
It is not the first time that a coach who qualified a team to the World Cup will be fired instead of getting assurances of renewed contract. It has happened three times in Nigeria when Pillipe Troussier was fired after qualifying Nigeria for the France ’98 World Cup even with a match to spare.
The late Amodu Shuaibu also twice suffered similar fate ahead of World Cup 2002 and that of 2010.
The Serbian FA (FSS) and its chief Slavisa Kokeza had the final say in a protracted row with Muslin over his squad selection and what they deemed were below-par performances in the qualifying campaign.
“The FSS, headed by president Slavisa Kokeza, convened and decided to part company with Muslin by mutual consent,” the body said on its website.
“Muslin’s assistant Mladen Krstajic will take over as the caretaker and will be in charge for friendlies against China and South Korea (in November), until a new head coach is appointed. We thank Muslin for good cooperation and his accomplishment.”
Muslin’s achievement was no small feat for a nation that last played on the big stage at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, although Serbia’s results flattered their performances for much of the 2018 qualifying campaign.
A revamped and unfamiliar 3-4-3 formation rode their luck in many games to finish top of their group with 20 points from 10 matches, one more than Ireland who reached the playoffs and three ahead of Wales.
But it was Muslin’s decision to axe versatile central midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic from the squad and the refusal to even consider his inclusion in the World Cup roster that infuriated his bosses as well as many fans and pundits.
Milinkovic-Savic has impressed at Lazio since he joined the Serie A side from Belgium’s Genk in 2015, having been a key player in Serbia’s Under-20 side which won the 2015 World Cup and the Under-19 European championship in 2013.
Muslin was adamant the creative playmaker could not fit into his rigid formation with two wing-backs and a pair of enforcers in midfield, turning swathes of public opinion against him.
He was also reportedly opposed to the idea of injecting fresh blood into the World Cup squad at the expense of several stalwarts, who have experience but lack the energy levels required in a month-long tournament.
Montenegro’s Serb coach Ljubisa Tumbakovic tops the list of potential candidates to take over after a solid World Cup qualifying campaign in which the Montenegrins finished third in their group behind Poland and Denmark.
International Football
Two Moroccan football players lost at sea, says club official
![](https://www.sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Abdellatif-Akhrif.png)
Two Moroccan players from top-flight soccer side Ittihad Tanger have been missing at sea since Saturday after strong currents drifted their small yacht, a club official said on Sunday.
They were in a group of five players from the club who went cruising off the northern city of Tangier when strong currents and heavy winds drifted their yacht away as they were swimming in deep waters, club deputy president Anass Mrabet told Reuters.
“Three players have already been rescued on Saturday, while research is still ongoing for the missing Salman Harraq and Abdellatif Akhrif,” he said.
The players did not have buoys on them when they jumped from the small yacht to swim, he said citing recounts by rescued players.
While Akhrif, 24, is already a full member of the squad, Harraq, 18, was about to move up to the senior team this year, Mrabet added.
Ittihad Tanger have been in the Moroccan top flight since 2015 and won the league title for the first and only time in their history in the 2017-18 season. However, they have struggled in the lower half of the standings in recent years.
-Reuters
International Football
FIFA launches ‘Football Manager’ World Cup with $100,000 in prize money
![](https://www.sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/arsene-wenger.jpg)
FIFA will host its first ever FIFAe World Cup of Football Manager this year to crown the best virtual manager on the highly-popular video game, world soccer’s governing body said on Thursday.
FIFA is partnering with Sports Interactive, the developers of the game that has sold millions of copies and has also been used by several football clubs to scout players and opponents thanks to its extensive database.
Players will compete for $100,000 in prize money in the final event from Aug. 29 to Sept. 1.
“This competition requires participants to demonstrate a profound understanding of football strategy and tactics,” said former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who is the ambassador for the esports event.
“Success demands not only mastery of game mechanics but also in-depth football knowledge, making this format a fascinating blend.”
FIFA said in the inaugural year of the event, selected member associations will be invited to be represented at the final event.
Member associations from all six confederations are expected to be invited while players can sign up on FIFA’s website.
-Reuters
International Football
Former Italy international Roberto Baggio robbed at gunpoint
![](https://www.sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/baggio.jpg)
Former Italy international Roberto Baggio was assaulted and robbed at gunpoint at his home in northern Italy while watching his country’s match against Spain in the Euro 2024 tournament on Thursday, local police said.
Burglars broke into Baggio’s house near Vicenza, hit him on the head with a gun butt and locked him and his family in a room while they stole jewellery, watches and cash, daily Il Corriere della Sera reported. It said he suffered a deep wound.
“Luckily, the violence I suffered only resulted in a few stitches, bruises and a lot of fear. Now it is to overcome the fear,” Baggio was quoted as saying by Italian news agency ANSA.
Baggio, 57, played for clubs including Juventus (JUVE.MI), opens new tab, AC Milan and Inter Milan. He also played 56 times for Italy, scoring 27 goals, and is widely seen as one of his country’s all-time greats.
After the robbery, Baggio, widely known as the “divine ponytail”, was treated at a local hospital where he received stitches for the head wound, Italian media reported.
Italy lost to Spain 1-0 on Thursday and now must avoid defeat by Croatia to guarantee progression in the tournament.
-Reuters
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