Question for Orwell (and others who would like to chime in): What do you think of this news: Fifa appoints first female secretary general to succeed Jerome Valcke http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36289757 Senegal's Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura has been appointed as Fifa's first female secretary general. She succeeds former secretary general Jerome Valcke, who was banned from football-related activity for 12 years. Samoura, 54, spent 21 years working for the United Nations and will start at football's governing body in June. "It is essential Fifa incorporates fresh perspectives as we continue to restore and rebuild our organisation," said Fifa president Gianni Infantino. "She has a proven ability to build and lead teams, and improve the way organisations perform. Importantly for Fifa, she also understands that transparency and accountability are at the heart of any well-run and responsible organisation." Samoura's appointment, announced at Fifa's congress in Mexico City, completes a new-look to an organisation which has been dogged by corruption allegations under Valcke and previous president Sepp Blatter. Blatter, who had led Fifa since 1998, stood down last year and was later suspended from football for six years for breaching ethics guidelines. On his appointment in February, Infantino said he would "work tirelessly to bring football back to Fifa and Fifa back to football". Samoura, who will undergo an eligibility check before her role is ratified, currently works for the UN in Nigeria, and speaks four languages. She started her UN career as a senior logistics officer with the World Food Programme in Rome in 1995 and has since served as country representative or director in six African countries, including Nigeria. "Today is a wonderful day for me, and I am honoured to take on this role," she said. "This role is a perfect fit for my skills and experience - strategic, high-impact team building in international settings - which I will use to help grow the game of football all over the world. "I also look forward to bringing my experience in governance and compliance to bear on the important reform work that is already underway at Fifa. "Fifa is taking a fresh approach to its work - and I am eager to play a role in making that approach as effective and lasting as possible." Analysis BBC sports editor Dan Roan: "For an organisation that has been accused in the past of being "blatantly sexist", the appointment of the first woman to such a senior position will be seen as a positive move. "With new reforms limiting the powers of the Fifa president, Ms Samoura arguably becomes the most important figure in world football. Effectively the chief executive of the governing body, she will be in charge of the day-to-day running of the organisation as it attempts to recover from the corruption crisis that has threatened its very existence. "With sponsors, campaigners and fans demanding more independence in the running of the sport, the arrival of a figure from outside football politics will also please some critics. A veteran of UN humanitarian programmes, it will be interesting to hear Ms Samoura's views on Qatar and concerns over the treatment of workers in the country as it prepares to host the 2022 World Cup. "A Senegalese secretary general will also help FIfa's European president Gianni Infantino build bridges with Africa and other confederations, some of whom no doubt miss his predecessor Sepp Blatter." Good move or bad? Proper direction or not? I do not understand the politics of international soccer so I have no idea how to answer these queries, myself.
1) She has never worked for FIFA, so there is a possibility that she is not corrupt to the core. 2) She is not European, so she is hopefully not tainted by association to the FIFA officials at the top level there who were (are) corrupt to the core. 3) She has experience running large scale International logistical operations, so I am sure that will help with the job. Both logistically and politically. I fear that coming from a humanitarian background, she may be swamped by the utterly insane amounts of money currently in the game. As far as I know, and hope, UN food programme aren't at the beck and call of giant corporations. But let's hope that this is a plus for her. 4) She is African. For decades now Africa has been seen as the continent with the most potential for the development for football. Pele said, at USA World Cup 1994, that an African team would win the WC within a decade. This scenario is a lot less likely now than it was back in 1994. (Although Pele was a lot better footballer than he has ever been a talker) I wish her all the best and will judge her only by her actions. If she is merely a PR appointment then not much change. Here’s hoping.
So - the Euros are coming up soon. Who do you think is going to win? I'm finding it quite hard to see past Germany on that score at the moment.
Real defeated Atletico to win the Champions League: https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...hampions-league-victory-with-supporters-video the game was won on penalty shoot outs - this event is FAR bigger than the Super Bowl with a huge international audience
http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=2016/matches/#md/1 --------- As for the teams themselves, I do not follow the league news or politics like so many Europeans do. All I do is to watch the games so that I know little of what goes on behind the scenes. Therefore, I could not make a prediction - besides that, all too often I jinx the teams! Here's the background news: https://www.theguardian.com/football
Spain, Spain, and then some. Any team that can leave out Cazorla, Torres, Mata, and Costa, from their squad have got to be feared. No one has been able to touch them in any international tournament in 8 years. Morota is also a better player than he was 2 years ago. And they have a beast of a midfield. Germany have shown no form since winning the World Cup. Their performances in qualification were rubbish. Even lowly Ireland beat them! Spain, Spain, or Scotland, who knows.
I reckon Germany have a tendency to hit form at the right time, while Spain have been developing something of a tendency to 'choke'. I wouldn't rule it out, though. The current England team looks to me like it has no chance, though - even less than usual. It's a pretty uninspiring squad. I may be biased (OK, I am), but I think Wales may do better than some are anticipating. I don't think the squad is tournament-winning, and it obviously isn't consistently at quite the same level, but the possibilities of having the likes of Bale, Ramsey, Ashley Williams, etc., even with a 'supporting cast' (albeit a capable one on their day) shouldn't be underestimated. There isn't the strength in depth to deal with injuries, perhaps, but there is a darned good team in there. Add to that the effect of it being the first major tournament for decades (having come so close to qualification so many times) and even the 'in memory of Gary Speed' aspect (which is proving to be a big motivator for the side), and those couple of players who will fear nothing and nobody at the very top level of the game, and things could get interesting, especially when it comes to a possible England v Wales group qualification decider. England fans seem to have written off Wales - comparing squads (or possible teams on the day rather, assuming no injuries), I don't think they'll find it quite as easy as they seem to think they will.
Spain have only been knocked out of one of the last four international tournament. They won the other three tournaments. Hardly a reputation for choking. More a one off collapse. I can't agree with your assessment of England. "It's a pretty uninspiring squad", with Kane, Ali, Vardy, Dier and Sturridge? I certainly can't see them winning, or even getting close to winning, but they could take the odd big scalp with the pace and intensity that they are going to deploy with all these exciting kids in the squad. Kane is the real deal. Vardy is the perfect accompaniment to Kane's marauding style. I wouldn't like to be a centre half not knowing to commit to Kane coming in off the wing, or sit deep to counteract Vardys blistering attacks. As for Wales, I think it would be a thing of beauty if Wales can beat Engerland in the group stages. Ireland did it at Euro 88 with our golden generation: McGrath, Whelan, Aldridge, Houghton etc. With Wales' current crop I suspect that Wales may never again get a better chance of beating the old enemy at an international tournament. Just let the 'Cannonball' (Bale) lose in the midfield and let's hope Blighty will be scattered. I think Wales will do better than Ireland. We have a very tough group with Sweden, Belgium and Italy. And I suspect the potential for the biggest surprise from the British Isles will come from Northern Ireland. They finished top of their qualification group and have immense belief in their capabilities as a result. Their manager Michael O'Neill has moulded them into a very effective modern footballing outfit. No real stars, only one current Premier League player, but boy do these guys know how to up their game and play as a solid unit.
Having watched the England performance against Portugal in the warm up game, I'm sticking with my original assessment - narrowly scraped a win against 10 men. No imagination, no creativity, no real plan in attack and vulnerable-looking in defence. There doesn't seem to be much there to worry anyone. Obviously a few of their better midfield players didn't play, but Rooney, Kane and Vardy up front should have been a handful, and they very obviously weren't. I agree on Northern Ireland, though - a side most people will still be forgetting about, but very capable of creating some upsets.
Yeah, I think we're going to end up with a Germany v. Spain final, and Germany is the better team of those two. I think France has a good chance too, though. They've been a bit rusty recently, but they've got some new talent. Plus they're on home turf, of course. I'm sorta biased though. The first game is on the last day of my exam week...if France wins (and I think they will) I'm going to be sooo annoyingly hyper that weekend!
I forgot about France. Some seriously inform players: Griezmann, Pogba, Kante, Martial. Then you have Belgium. A squad packed with an astonishing amount of talent. It could be their year. A year a kin to Denmark and Greece's wins in the past. I am going to stick with Spain. When they have a settled squad, as I believe they have for this tournament, they are almost unbeatable. The epicenter of the football World moved to Germany for a World Cup and one Champions League. There is no doubt that the pendulum of power has shifted firmly back to Spanish football. Their squad is full of Real and Atletico players who beat all before them and contested the Champions League final. Nevermind the key players from La Liga champions Barca.
[video=youtube;e8OqPvR_UZ0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8OqPvR_UZ0[/video] [video=youtube;6lnCAl7Jgr4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lnCAl7Jgr4[/video]
France have a very young team. Huge pressure. One win in the bag. There is a lot of talent that team. They will only get better as the tournament progresses. - - - Updated - - - Oh and Poyet's goal will sure to be up there for goal of the tournament.
Great win for Wales. The Cannonball, Davis and Williams put in a good shift. Wales reacted well to second half pressure from Slovakia, and when their goal came Wales did what what was needed. I would be worried about their fitness going forward in the tournament. They were looking jaded in parts of the second half. Great to see the Welsh choir on song. It is set up beautifully for the England game. Let the tri-nation Celtic love in begin!
Good opening weekend for the Euros. Great win for Wales, disappointing draw for Ireland, and an unlucky loss for England. Wales should get out of the group. England, like France, will get better as the tournament goes on. There both have in form young and gifted squads. The Germans are solid as ever and Italy look the strongest so far. Italy just know how to set their stall out at tournaments.
England didn't lose. Italy played an excellent game and showed how much of a team game it is against the individuals from Belgium. With the best and most experienced defence ever in the history of football they might win it.
Sorry, I meant to say England were unlucky to lose. They were by far the better team for over an hour of the game. I think that all they were missing was an in form Sterling. He looks like this season has shattered his confidence. Did he even get passed any player on the wing. And in the arséhole news: Russia win 3 - 0 against the tamer 21st version of English hooligans in the streets of Marseille. There are a lot of Eastern Europe and Russian firms acting like organised street militias in France. I fear that the violence will get worse. What were UEFA doing putting the England Russia game in Marseille at 9.00 on a Saturday evening?
Unlucky to draw? Russia indeed didn't have much to offer in that game. With the fans behaving like they are you can hope they don't qualify from the group. The French don't take any nonsense and will handle these brutes. If it continues Russia will be thrown out and probably won't be doing any sports for a very long time. The doping scandal is still in full swing. If any information comes out that the Russian Federation has anything to do with this they are in for a very long break from sports.
Today's the day. OK, I'll admit I'm biased on this one, but I think Wales have an excellent chance of a good result this afternoon. England have the stronger squad, and arguably the stronger individuals overall in the team, but are they actually the better 'team'? They just don't seem to know how to get their team to work together as a unit - defensively they look vulnerable, and offensively they don't seem to have worked out an effective system to allow their talent to shine. Wales, on the other hand, have less in the way of 'stars', but they work incredibly hard (and Iceland have shown what sheer hard work and commitment can achieve) and have a couple of real game-changers that they seem to know how to use effectively. It's too close to call - many are writing off Wales, but I think they are foolish to do so. As the old saying goes, on paper England are the better team, but football isn't played on paper.
England were the better team in the end. But not by much. Neither team created enough and it was a pretty poor game overall. A draw against a poor Russia team and Wales should be fine. What will be really interesting to see is how England get on against Slovakia. Hodgson is all over the place: Not starting Vardy; using Kane as a set piece specialist (he is not the primary corner taker for Spurs); add to that a team that is not creating near enough chances and I don't think they will go to far in the tournament.
Slovakia isn't great either, though. I mean, they beat Russia, but Russia were all over the shop in that game. I don't think England is the most skilled/co-ordinated team in the tournament, but as long as they can get possession, Slovakia's defence isn't the strongest, so they should be fine.
