By RYAN TOLMICH
Many were left stunned by FIFA’s decision to award the 2018 World Cup to Russia, but one FIFA executive was particularly surprised by the organization’s decision.
FIFA’s Harold Mayne-Nicholls, who was chairman of a group responsible for assessing the feasibility of each World Cup location, concluded that England’s bid for the 2018 World Cup was the strongest of the lot. However, after the nation received just two of 22 votes, Mayne-Nicholls, who previously chaired Chile’s football association, was left shocked.
“(England) was by far the strongest contender,” Mayne-Nicholls said. “How could England have only got two votes? It was a big surprise.
“England were on the top. They had the best concept, the best infrastructure and the people were very much involved,” said Mayne-Nicholls. “I was there and I saw the faces of Prince William and [David] Beckham, and they were shocked. It’s like when you are a first division team and you play a third division team and you lose by five goals.“
Here are some more news and notes to kick off your Monday morning:
QUERETARO ROCKED BY RONALDINHO CONFLICT, CAMILO INJURY
Due to injury and disobedience, Queretaro appear to be heading into 2015 without the club’s pair of Brazilian stars.
Ronaldinho has been given an ultimatum by the club after the Brazilian superstar failed to turn up for the club’s preseason training. The midfielder was given permission to miss a portion of the preseason, but Ronaldinho did not return upon the agreed date last week.
“If Ronaldinho doesn’t come this week, we will make a decision,” said Beltran, without going into details. “We feel he’s missed a lot of preseason, no one is above the institution.”
In addition, fellow Brazilian Camilo will miss roughly five months after suffering a torn cruciate ligament in his left knee in the first half of a friendly against Irapuato on Saturday. The former Vancouver Whitecaps star, who led Mexico in scoring last season, is set for surgery Monday.
KLOPP, HUMMELS BASH ‘IDIOTS’ DORTMUND
The Bundesliga is heading into the league’s winter break, and Borussia Dortmund’s Jurgen Klopp couldn’t be happier.
Klopp once again criticized his side’s 2015 performance, which sees the club currently sitting in the relegation zone of the Bundesliga.
“The best news today is that football is over for 2014,” Klopp said following his team’s 2-1 loss to Weder Bremen. “Any criticism that we receive now is justified. We are standing here like complete idiots and it’s completely our own fault.
“We now have three weeks of preparation ahead of us. Then we will repair what we’ve done.”
Defender Mats Hummels echoed Klopp’s remarks, while also admitting that there is no guarantee the club will turn things around when the season resumes at the end of January.
“It’s pretty astonishing that we are so pathetic,” Hummels said. “There is no guarantee that it will get better. There just isn’t. Almost every key player was injured in the first round [of the season].
“We have played as badly as imaginable. We’re very concerned. The way we’re playing, we’re right down there. If we have all the strongest players back by the end of January, then it will be different. But there’s no guarantee of that.”
QUICK KICKS
Kevin de Bruyne’s agent says that the Wolfsburg midfielder is happy to remain at Wolfsburg despite interest from Manchester City. (REPORT)
Napoli have rejected a series of offers for midfielder Jose Callejon. (REPORT)
Inter Milan manager Roberto Mancini admitted that he is interested in pursuing Atletico Madrid’s Alessio Cerci. (REPORT)
Bayer Leverkusen have signed midfielder Cristoph Kramer to a new contract. (REPORT)
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What do you think of Mayne-Nicholls’ statements? How will Queretaro handle any potential Ronaldinho discipline? What do Borussia Dortmund need to do to right the ship?
Share your thoughts below.
Im back my people 🙂 jk.
I was doing some christmas duty 🙂
As a matter of fact, this morning i was watching the channel univisiondeportes and this show by the name of stadio futbol, said ronaldinho could be in brazil or in the US fixing some personal issues and if he doesn’t show up, his team plans to cut him or just punish him with his salary. Also the TV show hosts, said ronaldiho has too much to loose since he has a mansion, private security and driver and probably anything he wants. They also said ronaldinho likes to get in shape in brazil and ronaldinho said he will be in after christmas, and if not ronaldinho can walk off due to his contract.
Was it the poster “El Paso” that would post daily about Ronaldinho to MLS? Professionalism was never his strong suit, so this surprises no one.
I was wondering where El Paso was too.
I will fill in. The reason Ronaldinho is missing is because he is going to MLS…finally.
Breaking News!
Was just thinking of El Paso/expansion geek myself. I don’t know if any MLS was ever interested in Ronaldinho but I’m glad he didn’t come. The current “crisis” was pretty predictable.
The England argument is not strained at all to me. It is amplified by consensus that they had the best bid and were the first ones voted out! It would be akin to have a choice of Michael Jordan and Harold “baby Jordan” Minor and not choosing Michael Jordan. And I don’t mean simply making him a back up or an alternate choice I mean cut from the team … get out of here … get lost
Like seriously! Who cuts Michael Jordan from the team?
Nice Harold Minor reference. That guy was fun to watch (for a very brief period of time).
Unlike England, Harold Minor headed off into the sunset with grace.
I don’t think Spain/Portugal or Belgium/Holland are so silly that it’s like Eddie Murphy versus Charlie Murphy. You would have to not only push Qatar aside but lift them from third choice site from the UEFA options.
Qatar wasn’t involved in the 2018 bids but I know what you mean.
I don’t think England was winning no matter what. Corruption aside no one in FIFA likes England. Some of this comes from ancient FIFA history where an English FIFA president basically did his best to keep Africa and Asia limited to one WC slot each. Some of it comes from all the investigations by the English media. Either way there is bad blood that isn’t directly related to corruption.
Neither the 2018 nor the 2022 choice is what you would make on the merits for the best soccer infrastructure, climate, etc. The common thread on both was oil money.
But the 2018 argument here is strained. England was dead last in the voting. They were behind two other UEFA bids. It is interesting to wonder why. But the suggestion that if Qatar is in its rightful place then England wins doesn’t reflect how the voting went: England was the first bid out.
I don’t think Russia is ridiculous. Oh sure Russia itself kinda sucks but its not insane to have it there and there was likely corruption involved. The rest of the soccer world doesn’t really like England so I doubt they would have won no matter what.
I would have loved a low country world cup. =/
Turned Ronaldinho’s head that is.
Probably one of the fist pump kind.
Don Garber must be loving the drama with Queretaro after their raid of Camilo. I wonder what club has turned his head…
Garber has his own (extensive) drama to worry about.
I would love to see a picture of Ronaldinho in an MLS jersey giving a thumbs up.