June 2012
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What's more, the Guadalajara starlet has a host of other ambitions he wishes to fulfil, among them playing abroad, excelling at a big European club and, above all else, appearing for Mexico’s senior side at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™. Very well-mannered and visibly in good spirits, Fabian spoke about all this and more in an exclusive chat.
Great expectationsFresh from his exploits in Toulon, where he struck seven times in four games to take the competition’s top scorer’s award and equal a record previously set by Alan Shearer, Fabian could barely hide his delight. “I think it was a great performance at both an individual level and as a team. It was just what we needed ahead of London [2012]: to come up against different styles of football, with a different type of competitiveness. That made us grow in stature as players, no doubt about it.”
For the gifted creator, one of the most valuable lessons Mexico learned from the tournament was that they can indeed stand firm against more physically powerful European players. “In Latin America the style of football is more about cunning, whereas in Europe it’s much more about power and aerial play – so there are significant differences. But I feel that Mexican players are able to adapt well to different styles and, at this moment in time, we can compete with any of those teams.”
I don’t think Mexican players ought to wait too long before going abroad. I’m determined to try my luck and hopefully excel.
Mexico's Marco Fabian on moving abroad.
Indeed Fabian is optimistic El Tri are ready to make a splash at this summer’s showpiece on British soil: “We’re going over there aiming to make our mark and really do Mexico proud. This is the right opportunity and we’ve got a very good generation of players. There are still some issues to iron out but we’re able to compete with anybody.”
Going back to Fabian’s goalscoring record in Toulon, that achievement is all the more impressive given he is a No10, rather than an out-and-out centre-forward. And in the view of the player, who stood out for his technical ability and powerful shooting, this purple patch came about largely due to the remarkable spirit in the Mexico camp: “This is the result of what I’m doing out on the pitch, which is working hard, enjoying myself and having fun. Being in this team spurs me on, thanks to the great camaraderie we have. We’re all really excited.”
Individual ambition
In addition to his high expectations for El Tri at the upcoming Olympics, the Guadalajara player has also set himself other short-term individual goals, including earning a move to Europe. “I know that this tournament was a great shop window,” he said, on the interest sparked by his displays in France.
“I don’t think Mexican players ought to wait too long before going abroad. I’m determined to try my luck and hopefully excel. I don’t just want to move to Europe, I want to establish myself there, make a mark. All of this has helped me realise I’m able to go toe-to-toe with anybody.”
Fabian’s current success must now taste even sweeter, as it comes on the back of a period during which he continually threatened to make the breakthrough, only to be tripped up time and again by a lack of maturity. “Every player has his own development process,” said the trequartista, who insisted he has learned from past mistakes. “There was a period during which I had a lot of ups and downs and I couldn’t find consistency, but I’ve gradually overcome that. The mistakes and bad decisions I made have helped me mature. I feel like I’m playing better than ever.”
Should he fulfil his goal of a move to the Old Continent, Fabian will owe a debt to Manchester United hitman Javier Hernandez. Chicharito is one of his best friends, a long-standing source of valuable advice and a key factor behind the player’s determination to succeed across the Atlantic.
“I’ve known him since I was eight years old, we grew up together,” Fabian explained. “He’s the player who’s done Mexico most proud and he’s an example to follow. He made us realise that any young Mexican can go really far, if they have his attitude and desire. I’d love to play alongside him at Brazil 2014: that’d be a dream come true.”
The next FIFA World Cup™ is not for another two years, however, and, as the interview concluded, the youngster was quick to turn his focus back to a much more immediate goal: London 2012. “We’re aiming for the gold medal,” said Fabian, in bullish fashion.
“We can make this dream come true, we’re all going over there with a winning mindset. It’s a difficult and important tournament but it’s not impossible to win. We can change history, we can bring back gold and of course I can picture myself proud, victorious and putting Mexico’s name right at the very top [of the game].”
Belarus counting on togetherness
June 2012
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Yet many fans already have their sights set on adding to that collection at the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament in London this year. While public ambition may be sky high, head coach Georgi Kondratiev is taking a more down-to-earth approach to the competition, aware that several top teams are also taking part.
“Our aims and our mission are the following: We want to get through the group stage and then try to win one knockout game after the other,” Kondratiev told in an exclusive interview. His step-by-step method is a sensible one given that qualifying for London 2012 is already the greatest achievement in the fledgling history of Belarusian football.
Collectively strongIn reaching the semi-finals of the UEFA European U-21 Championship 2011 in Denmark, which also served as a qualifying competition for the Olympics, the unfancied Belarus side not only broke though the continent’s established football hierarchy, but made countless countrymen deliriously happy too.
While they ultimately lost to eventual champions Spain 3-1 after extra time in the last four, they did come out on top (1-0) in the decisive game against Czech Republic to earn their place at London 2012 alongside Spain, Switzerland and hosts Great Britain.
We want to get through the group stage and then try to win one knockout game after the other.
Georgi Kondratiev, Belarus coach
It was the first time Belarus had managed to reach the finals of a major international tournament and it sparked proud celebrations in and around the capital Minsk. “It was a very prestigious thing for football in Belarus and for the country itself to reach a tournament like the Olympic Games,” said Kondratiev.
The coach is hoping his side will gain extra impulse just by being in London. “We don’t have any key players like other teams do, but we trust our togetherness as a group, our team spirit on the pitch, in the changing rooms, in the hotel and in any situation, anywhere,” the 52-year-old continued.
A difficult but manageable taskAs well as coaching the Belarusian Olympic team, Kondratiev is also in charge of the men’s senior side. He knows exactly what it takes to succeed on the international stage, having scored four goals in his 14 appearances as striker for the Soviet Union. Now he is preparing to pass on his considerable experience to his young charges.
“We got drawn in a very strong group,” Kondratiev said. On 26 July their Group C campaign begins against New Zealand in Coventry, before facing Brazil in Manchester three days later. Their final and potentially decisive group match is against Egypt in Glasgow. “I think Brazil are the favourites of course. But otherwise I think we’re at the same level as New Zealand and Egypt.”
The tournament newcomers are looking to use the Olympics to draw lasting attention to their recent positive progression. The senior team managed a respectable three victories, four draws and four defeats in their UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying campaign. “We don’t have the same level of infrastructure or financial possibilities as the top football countries,” said Kondratiev. “We’re a few categories lower down.”
But with their tireless passion and the inspiration of a coach who knows what is required to shine on the international stage, Belarus could well be an uncomfortable opponent for anyone at London 2012.
Japan's Sekizuka: Our aim is to win a medal
Thursday 21 June 2012
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This bronze medal performance has since remained an elusive feat for all Asian teams, with only Australia and Iraq coming close to equaling the effort after storming into the semi-finals at Barcelona 1992 and Athens 2004 respectively. Japan, meanwhile, have only progressed beyond the group stage once during the past four-and-a-half decades, with an Hidetoshi Nakata-inspired squad reaching the last eight at Sydney 2000 only to lose out to USA on penalties.
With the recent development, however, many Japanese faithful believe it is time to revive their Olympic fortunes. Sharing this view in particular is coach Takashi Sekizuka, who has set his sights on reliving their past glory heading into their fifth consecutive appearance at the global showpiece.
"Our aim is simple: to battle for an Olympic medal," the 51-year-old former Kawasaki Frontale manager recently told in an exclusive interview. "It is a global meeting of 16 representatives of the different continents so there are no easy opponents. We will try to qualify from our group and then we will continue to do our best to prove the potential on behalf of not only us, but also Asian football."
European road blockIn their last two appearances at the Olympics, teams from Europe have proved out to be Japan's biggest obstacle. The Japanese were defeated 3-2 by Italy at Athens 2004 before losing 2-1 to Netherlands at Beijing 2008 as they took the wooden spoon on both occasions. And as if to test their progress, the Olympic Draw for London 2012 pitted them against European champions Spain in Group D's opener on 26 July in Glasgow, with African giants Morocco and a fast-progressing Honduras awaiting them in the following fixtures.
We will try to qualify from our group and then we will continue to do our best to prove the potential on behalf of not only us, but also Asian football.
Takashi Sekizuka, Japan coach
Ambitious as he is, Sekizuka is all too aware that his young team must have as much exposure as possible to strong European opposition if they are to spring a surprise at this summer's Olympic games. Their preparation began from this May's Toulon Tournament, where Sekizuka's outfits put in some excellent performances despite suffering an early exit after the group stage.
The Japanese dominated the first half in the opener against Turkey, only to concede two second-half goals, including an own goal by Oiwa Kazuki as they began the campaign in disappointing fashion with a 2-1 defeat. However, they bounced back in style to edge the Netherlands 3-2, before narrowly losing out to Egypt by the identical scoreline.
"The competition provided us with a good chance to take stock of the team ahead of London 2012," Sekizuka said. "Although our players performed positively, there is still much room for improvement and we must focus on how to solve the problems and how to play well as a team."
Rising starsCatching the most attention are the team's European-based contingent, all of whom featured significantly at the Toulon tournament with Sevilla B forward Hiroshi Ibusuki on target against the Netherlands, while TSG Hoffenheim midfielder Takashi Usami scored a brace against Egypt. While this is a positive sign in terms of development, it has certainly given Sekizuka plenty of food for thought ahead of their opener against Spain.
“Our European-based players can provide the team with good experiences,” he said. “We don’t have many chances to play against European teams so with our overseas-based players shoring up the team, I am confident we are capable of competing against any rivals.”
Japan will wrap up their preparations with two warm-ups against fellow Olympic participants New Zealand and Mexico, and Sekizuka is aiming to get his side in their finest shape ahead of the contest. “We hope each player can reach his best form by then and more importantly, the team are strong as a group. These are key factors for Japan’s success.”
Tamudo: The Olympics are unique
June 2012
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La Selección will be back on the scene for London 2012, however, boasting a squad bursting with talent and buoyed by victory in the UEFA U-21 Championship. Spain’s youngsters have a wealth of both domestic and international experience under their collective belts and are determined to continue boosting the profile of the country’s national youth teams.
Before the latest crop of Spanish starlets come together for their Olympic bid on British soil, we were fortunate enough to speak to one of the members of the squad that claimed silver in Australia. That man is Raul Tamudo, who has recently signed on the dotted line for Mexico’s Pachuca.
The Olympic Games has a totally different vibe to it: you get the opportunity to rub shoulders with sportsmen and women from other disciplines too, it’s a different atmosphere.
Tamudo on his Olympic memories
“I’d do it again tomorrow!” said the 34-year-old striker, on his adventure at Sydney 2000. “That’s because I’ve got great memories of that experience: the atmosphere in the city, the dressing-room banter, the way everyone lived and breathed sport. On top of that we reached the final and, though we couldn’t quite win it, it was a very good game for the spectators.”
The fact that La Roja were beaten to gold by Cameroon came back to haunt Tamudo on a number of occasions during his 13-season spell (from 1998 to 2010) at La Liga outfit Espanyol, where he shared a dressing room at different times with three Indomitable Lions: Carlos Kameni, Samuel Eto’o and Pierre Wome. “The subject always used to come up,” he recalled with a wry smile.
“Whenever we disagreed on anything they’d always remind me that they were the ones with the gold medals at home,” he continued. “There wasn’t anything I could say to that, I just had to keep my mouth shut. In any case, my dad’s got my silver medal safely stored away. And not everyone’s got one of those.”
What's more, while nobody questions the prestige of competitions such as the UEFA EURO, the Copa America and the FIFA World Cup™, all those who have competed at an Olympic Football Tournament agree it is a very special event in its own right. “It’s a tournament that, due to the age restrictions, you’ll only ever experience once in your life – particularly as Spain don’t usually take any over-23 players,” said Tamudo.
“You might have more chance of taking part in a World Cup or a EURO,” he continued. “Also, an Olympic Games has a totally different vibe to it: you get the opportunity to rub shoulders with sportsmen and women from other disciplines too, it’s a different atmosphere.”
So, his advice to those preparing for London 2012 is as follows: “They should give it their best shot out on the pitch but, above anything else, they should try and enjoy themselves. They ought to savour every minute they’re over there: see the city, meet the other athletes. It’s a unique experience.”
Memorable moments
The thrilling finale to Sydney 2000 aside, Tamudo also has very vivid memories of two other encounters during that campaign. “The toughest match was the quarter-final against Italy,” he said, of the 1-0 win secured by Gabri’s 86th-minute strike.
“It was really grueling. We knew that whichever of us went through was almost certain to reach the final and maybe win it. Besides which, we played that match in Sydney, having previously been in Melbourne and Adelaide, so it was from then on that we really started to soak up the Olympic atmosphere.”
Their last-four clash against USA, in contrast, did not come down to quite such fine margins. “I scored my only goal of the competition in that game and I’ve got very fond memories of that moment, because it helped send us through to the final,” recalled Tamudo on his well-taken opener in the 3-1 win, with the forward also supplying Jose Mari for Spain’s third goal. “The United States weren’t a very big name back then in world football terms, but even so they made life hard for us.”
The squad coached by Inaki Saez was clearly high in quality, including as it did four players – Xavi, Carlos Marchena, Carles Puyol and Joan Capdevila – who went on to win the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa.
Nevertheless, Tamudo also highlighted another key factor in that team’s displays: “I think one of the secrets to our success was the human side of the squad: the fact we got on so well and the great atmosphere in the camp. An Olympic Games can mean spending over a month away from home and if the atmosphere’s not right it can really drag. The time we spent together in Australia was magnificent.”
Putting nostalgia aside, we asked for Tamudo’s verdict on the squad that could be at the disposal of coach Luis Milla come the Olympic showpiece. “He’ll have players from big clubs with a lot of experience, as well as European [U-21] champions. I think that they must be among the favourites. Spain are challengers at every competition and there’s some very strong young talent coming through.”
And finally, would he be keen on going along as one of the overage players? “With the players they’ve got I don’t think they need an old guy in the squad. I might even feel a bit out of place at my age!” he said with a smile, as the conversation concluded. “I think this is a chance for younger players, for those with the desire and enthusiasm you have when you’re starting out. It’s their time to experience this, I’ve already had my turn.”
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