tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42148396035240773522024-03-16T18:52:25.581+00:00World Cups and BeyondWorld Cups and Beyond - varied musings on the international game.
Formerly Non-FIFA Football Updates.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12286225047869660679noreply@blogger.comBlogger117125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214839603524077352.post-61620422279989801162019-06-14T12:36:00.000+01:002017-06-14T17:18:55.894+01:00This blog is no longer about non-FIFA football, but about all aspects of the international game. It's planned that occasional thoughts and pieces, of varied lengths, will be posted. Contributions are very welcome - please use the contacts on the right side of the home page. All the non-FIFA pages and posts will be kept for interests sake.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12286225047869660679noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214839603524077352.post-23160801398462263132017-06-14T12:46:00.000+01:002017-06-14T17:52:17.672+01:00Chi-Chi-Chi: Don't ignore the free gift on ITV this summer<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Chile are coming to our televisions, and we'd be fools to miss out.</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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It’s not a big tournament summer. The domestic season is
long finished, the international break is over, and the fixtures for the next
Premier League campaign were announced today, allowing football fans the opportunity
to dream of what might be, come May 2018. That’s it. No senior, elite level
football to be watched for weeks, it seems. Maybe bored lovers of the beautiful
game will want to dip their toe in the Lions tour of New Zealand, catch the end
of the ICC Champions Trophy or simply wait until it’s time for those annual
cries of “come on Tim”. However, they’d be foolish to detach from football,
just yet.<o:p></o:p></div>
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That jam-jar of a competition, forced on to the calendar so
tightly by FIFA, with seemingly no likelihood of being removed for the sake
of players hoping for a summer off, is ready to go. The Confederations Cup will
kick off in Saint Petersburg on Saturday, as hosts Russia take on 2016 OFC
Nations Cup winners New Zealand. This tournament rarely catches the media
spotlight, despite some rather open and exciting tournaments in
recent years, and is ignored by many British football fans. This is both a plea
and recommendation, however, to do the opposite this summer, and lap up the coming terrestrial
television gift that is the Chile national team.<o:p></o:p></div>
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One day, I’ll write an elongated love letter about this
side. Ever since the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, I’ve been captivated by
them. Their style is no doubt one for the footballing romantics. Goals, goals,
goals, <i>Gegenpressen</i> on steroids, a
leaky defence, world class superstars and the tummy-tingly suspense of never
knowing what might happen when they play. They have a unique identity, that
rare thing in modern-day international football. And they’ll be desperate to
lift the trophy this summer.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The seeds of this side were first planted at the 2007 under-20 World Cup in
Canada, when a team containing Alexis Sanchez and Arturo
Vidal finished in 3<sup>rd</sup> place. Those two are no doubt the stars of
the current side, but there are essential players throughout, not least Claudio Bravo,
Eduardo Vargas and Gary Medel, all players somewhat maligned in England. The
core of this under-20 team broke a 12 year absence from the World Cup when they
made it to South Africa in 2010, but after progressing out of Group H, they were
comfortably beaten by Brazil in the last-16. They had 3 key men suspended that disappointing day, but the style was well in place for the future. And whose style was it? Marcelo
Bielsa, no less, and it’s he who must take a serious amount of credit for what
came after his 3 year tenure ended in 2010.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Not an easy job to walk into, Jorge Sampaoli secured 3<sup>rd</sup> place in the CONMEBOL qualifiers for Brazil 2014, and a
second successive finals appearance for this generation. They were, however,
drawn in the Group of Death, with invincible holders Spain, the Netherlands and
Australia. I remember the excitement the evening of their opener, against the
Socceroos, vividly. The first half-hour was a relentless gush of super-Chile,
and they raced into a 2-0 lead. A big score looked likely, but perhaps their biggest defensive frailty, height (or lack of), was highlighted when Tim Cahill pulled one back via a headed goal.
Chile went on to win 3-1, but it was the next match against Spain that really
caught the eye, as classy goals from Carles Aranguiz and Vargas saw the world champions dumped out the competition.<o:p></o:p></div>
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They should have secured top spot, and a date
with Mexico, but defeat to the Dutch left a mouth-watering showdown against the
hosts in what turned out to be a gripping contest. Sadly, and typically heart-breaking,
it was penalties that saw Chile exit, but it could have been so different had
Mauricio Pinilla not agonisingly crashed a shot against the bar in extra time. There would be little time to lick wounds, though. In a years time, the Copa America was coming to Chile, and they had a date with destiny, in a competition that they'd remarkably never won.</div>
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Of course, the tournament had all the rollercoasters that
associate with this team, from Vidal crashing his car in controversial circumstances,
to a defensive horror-show in a 3-3 draw with Mexico. However, ultimately, the
side held their nerve in the knockout stages, and the late 1-0 win over a
dogged Uruguay side was key. An edgy win over Peru in the last 4 meant a date
with Lionel Messi and co in the final in Santiago. It was penalties again, but this time Chile won,
claiming their first ever silverware and fulfilling surely the ultimate goal of
this generation. The penalty that clinched it epitomised this team - Sanchez, under all the pressure in the world, dinking a Panenka past Sergio Romero.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Copa Centenario in 2016 again had the mix of good, bad
and ugly, in the excessive Chile ways. Only a penalty in the 10<sup>th</sup>
minute of stoppage time against Panama helped them out the group, before a
simply astonishing 7-0 demolition of a solid Mexico team in the last 8. Colombia
were seen off inside the first 15 minutes of the semis, and then history repeated
itself in New Jersey in the final, when penalties again clinched the gold medal
over Argentina. Famously, Messi retired from the international game after this
loss, but is now back in the fold. His current manager? Sampaoli, who’d left
Chile before the 2016 Copa, initially for Sevilla. <o:p></o:p></div>
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He was replaced by Juan Antonio Pizzi, the latest man who to
be set the task of maintaining this special team and their style. A second
successive continental crown wasn’t a bad way to start, but a mixed 2018 World
Cup qualifying campaign sees them in the 4<sup>th</sup>, and final, automatic
berth at present. Of course, it’s Argentina and Sampaoli who sit one place
behind them, and a fascinating end to the qualification awaits. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Before that, though, is the Confederations Cup. For a nation
so overjoyed to win that first continental crown in 2015, there'll be little need for motivation
to reach for more gold in Russia. Their last warm-up game against Romania was a microcosm of this team; two sumptuous goals giving the South Americans a two-goal lead, before a rearguard collapse ended in a 3-2 defeat. The defensive importance of Medel was evident - Chile were ahead before his first-half dismissal.<br />
<br />
In Russia this month, Europe will offer the main threat. Germany will
always be contenders, and there’s no doubt a certain Mr Ronaldo will be keen to
claim yet another career medal. The Germans and Chile are together in group B, along with
Australia and a weak Cameroon, who the Chileans meet in their opener on Sunday. Entertainment is almost guaranteed - the averages for the 16 matches they've played over the course of the 2014 World Cup, and 2015 and 2016 Copa Americas read as 3 goals per game, and over 2 scored by Chile.</div>
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This side needs more dedicated to them than this all-to-brief
assessment of the past decade There’s no doubt others have told this story,
or parts of it, and in better ways. What I’m trying to get across is that this
side are a pure pleasure to watch, gripping, and unpredictable. And you’d be
foolish to miss out on the free offerings on your TV this summer. <o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12286225047869660679noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214839603524077352.post-47097800538838370782014-04-01T11:12:00.001+01:002014-04-01T11:12:50.060+01:00Kosovo announce Turkey and Senegal friendlies<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Kosovo</b> have confirmed May matches with Turkey and Senegal as they make the most of FIFA's allowance for them to play friendlies with their members.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVPtVJeFDVhxaYl_xR0rP3qZhTV_nhHN7PReupzXCbeqJUQvb1u8X6Gd-Nb55uzaNWUDHtWjJcywpZejKWyGV0wAcyCSJxiIWn4HBpfpbwgIKNoCPaULoRHmb9XgfFX4dIxNXwUhjP_wY/s1600/media_xll_6613369.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVPtVJeFDVhxaYl_xR0rP3qZhTV_nhHN7PReupzXCbeqJUQvb1u8X6Gd-Nb55uzaNWUDHtWjJcywpZejKWyGV0wAcyCSJxiIWn4HBpfpbwgIKNoCPaULoRHmb9XgfFX4dIxNXwUhjP_wY/s1600/media_xll_6613369.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Kosovo team before the Haiti game</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">They will play the Euro 2008 semi-finalists in Mitrovica on the 21st before travelling to Geneva on May 25th where they will face the Senegalese.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The northern city of Mitrovica was home to the <a href="http://nonfifafootball.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/in-their-first-friendly-to-be-approved.html">0-0 with Haiti</a> last month and the historical ties with Turks and Albanians make the game a fairly predictable one. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Senegal are preparing for the 2015 African Cup of Nation qualifiers and the game in Switzerland, a country home to an estimated 150,000 Kosovar emigrants, should attract a big crowd.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Kosovo squad is expected to be similar to <a href="http://nonfifafootball.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/experienced-internationals-in-kosovo.html">the one that played last month</a> though Manchester United's Adnan Januzaj could feature after his father Abedin is reported to have said "<i>my son will play for Kosovo or Turkey</i>".</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12286225047869660679noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214839603524077352.post-90891604360429780682014-03-24T13:27:00.000+00:002014-04-01T10:59:35.687+01:00Groups drawn for maiden ConIFA World Football Cup<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The draw for the first ConIFA World Football Cup took place today with hosts <b>Sápmi</b> meeting <b>Occitania</b> and <b>Abkhazia</b> in group B.</span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNX8pkx0cAuc16EGAbQqeJAlSah7pn2CkkuYmUEqENps0k2eyifYmuEJX95R4pzq0eL-VCH2vY2UaZrBitjNcxKVjLLBFpveBQ-iH4QNPtW0-0VbvkLRmQDmAkb7RX7V_0_A9edyR4McY/s1600/WFC.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNX8pkx0cAuc16EGAbQqeJAlSah7pn2CkkuYmUEqENps0k2eyifYmuEJX95R4pzq0eL-VCH2vY2UaZrBitjNcxKVjLLBFpveBQ-iH4QNPtW0-0VbvkLRmQDmAkb7RX7V_0_A9edyR4McY/s1600/WFC.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The 12 competing teams</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">VIVA World Cup holders <b>Kurdistan</b> are alongside <b>Aramean Suryoye</b> and <b>Tamil Eelam</b> in group A, with group C to be contested by <b>Padania</b>, <b>Quebec</b> and <b>Darfur</b>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Group D, arguably the easiest looking pool, will feature <b>Zanzibar, Nagorno</b>-<b>Karabakh </b>and <b>Ellan Vannin.</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The hosts squad is anticipated to be extremely strong with Club Brugge defender Tom Høgli expected to play. The Lapland side have meet the Occitans twice before, most recently in 2012 when they lost 3-2.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Group A is an all Asian affair which will be dominated by the Kurds and 2008 VIVA World Cup runners-up Aramean Suryoye. The sides met in 2008 drawing 0-0.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In Group C none of the teams have previous meetings but 2012 VIVA World Cup whipping boys Darfur could be on the end of some heavy scorelines against the powerful duo of Padania and Quebec.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The final group is perhaps the most open with each side likely to fancy their chances of making the quarter-finals. The full fixture list will be published next week.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After the draw Aramean Suryoye FA president Melke Alan said "it's tough but it's good to play the hard teams [Kurdistan]". Sapmi FA president Håkan Kuorak was equally positive saying "I expect us to be better than Abkhazia for sure".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Full draw - </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Group A: Kurdistan, Aramean Suryoye & Tamil Eelam.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Group B: Sapmi, Occitania & Abkhazia.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Group C: Padania, Quebec & Darfur.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Group D: Zanzibar, Nagorno-Karabakh & Ellan Vannin.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12286225047869660679noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214839603524077352.post-53504957871032179812014-03-21T10:05:00.000+00:002014-03-21T22:09:39.841+00:00Monaco confirm May trip to Rome for Vatican friendly<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Monaco</b> will travel to Rome on May 10th to face the <b>Vatican City</b> as the </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">two microstates meet for the fourth time.</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-mPLimZH52DQU6ybHpcYtIiu3uVIhV1VyknBr9S8zbiMlYAbpkfmGpX5bD2Fbix48SqRkKQCYrpyqU-SPJ4bJXvAyUn9nyQcn-J1SzkwHVpFIKyr94_e85F3jAGUTh2pO-VSWoG_lWM/s1600/1043874_480606045343197_699196121_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-mPLimZH52DQU6ybHpcYtIiu3uVIhV1VyknBr9S8zbiMlYAbpkfmGpX5bD2Fbix48SqRkKQCYrpyqU-SPJ4bJXvAyUn9nyQcn-J1SzkwHVpFIKyr94_e85F3jAGUTh2pO-VSWoG_lWM/s1600/1043874_480606045343197_699196121_n.jpg" height="201" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Both teams after the game last summer</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The game will take place at 20:00 at the Stadio Petriano in Pontificio Oratorio San Pietro, the Vatican's sport complex, which plays host to Vatican domestic matches.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">With no pitch within the Holy See the smallest nation in the world play ‘home’ games in Rome with both a 2-1 defeat to Monaco in 2011 and 0-0 draw 9 years previous coming at the Stadio Pio XII.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Vatican travelled to the French Riviera for a first away game last June as they <a href="http://nonfifafootball.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/first-half-goals-secure-monaco-win.html">went down 2-0</a> after first-half goals from Morgan Escarras and Eric Fissore. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Monaco have stepped up their non-FIFA activity over the last 18 months playing games, both of which ended in defeat, against Raetia and <a href="http://nonfifafootball.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/clinical-provence-too-strong-for-monaco.html">Provence</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The win over the Vatican was their last outing and they will travel to the <a href="http://nonfifafootball.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/ellan-vannin-announce-monaco-friendly.html">Isle of Man in April as the oppositio</a>n for the newly formed Manx Ellan Vannin team.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Monegasque also have plans for an August game with Sealand and potentially Seborga after the Italian micronation recently founded a new football organisation. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12286225047869660679noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214839603524077352.post-36831838411861263442014-03-20T23:02:00.000+00:002014-03-23T09:48:16.725+00:00Gibraltar to host Malta in June<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Gibraltar will host Malta in a friendly on June 4<sup>th</sup>
as the new UEFA members look to prepare for their first European Championship
qualification campaign later this year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfpEidwf5n0oF1xghSOBxSuTSvrpdoNWpfcNOjz06EFGYqOy2GEXONqFxLDLOiHXIIp26rIxO7DfiwWMFcreLbtDnEJkxwk_pLHAvq97fePnHkvfw8BozUyGxjlE3wRIsYSlJ_zDcN65I/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfpEidwf5n0oF1xghSOBxSuTSvrpdoNWpfcNOjz06EFGYqOy2GEXONqFxLDLOiHXIIp26rIxO7DfiwWMFcreLbtDnEJkxwk_pLHAvq97fePnHkvfw8BozUyGxjlE3wRIsYSlJ_zDcN65I/s1600/Untitled.jpg" height="136" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sides will meet for the first time</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The game will likely take place at the Victoria Stadium
which was the venue for Gibraltar’s back-to-back defeats to the Faroe Islands
and Estonia earlier this month.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">With the Estádio Algarve in Faro, Portugal Gibraltar's home ground for the European Championship qualifiers there's a chance the game could be played there.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The non-FIFA side travel to Tallinn on May 26<sup>th</sup>
before the Maltese, who lost 2-0 to Albania in March, travel to the Mediterranean
for a first meeting with Gibraltar. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Gibraltar Football Association no doubt see the game as an opportunity to gain a positive result on the back of the disappointing results during the last international break.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12286225047869660679noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214839603524077352.post-43972411865632094702014-03-19T09:56:00.000+00:002014-03-19T09:57:47.669+00:00ConIFA World Football Cup draw set for Monday<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The draw for the maiden ConIFA World Football Cup takes
place on Monday in Sweden with the new non-FIFA governing body set to reveal
the groups for the 12 competing teams.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZCmBweHWUbLOBD16IFWeZphI1nrVksvVFoWexGZ9-00b8nrJyTWGMbi9r4MDQRpe_4Ub3c43b3ZkpKmoszqJdwMe4GiKuh5GppHLWBiIYIHmCN8IdKDFVnyqRjVEc4PrZp1c2QwP37wE/s1600/conifa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZCmBweHWUbLOBD16IFWeZphI1nrVksvVFoWexGZ9-00b8nrJyTWGMbi9r4MDQRpe_4Ub3c43b3ZkpKmoszqJdwMe4GiKuh5GppHLWBiIYIHmCN8IdKDFVnyqRjVEc4PrZp1c2QwP37wE/s1600/conifa.jpg" height="203" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The projected seeding for the draw</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">ConIFA World President Per-Anders Blind will conduct the
draw in the southern Sami city of Östersund, which will stage the finals,
alongside organisation CEO Johan Bexelius. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Of the 12 participants 8 have played at a VIVA World Cup
before with <b>Quebec</b>, <b>Ellan Vannin</b>, <b>Abkhazia</b> and <b>Nagorno-Karabakh</b> the exceptions.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hosts <b>Sapmi</b>, winners of the first VIVA World Cup in 2006,
will be in pot one after each competing association agreed on a seeding system
which will see 3 groups of 4 play out before quarter-finals, semi’s and
placement games. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2012 VIVA World Cup winners <b>Kurdistan</b> are expected to join
them in the first pot alongside 3-time VIVA champions <b>Padania</b> and CAF members
<b>Zanzibar</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Pot two is expected to contain the Quebecois, 2013 Tynwald
Hill Tournament winners <b>Occitania</b> and 2008 VIVA World Cup runners up <b>Aramean
Suryoye</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Nagorno-Karabakh will make up the second seeds despite the <a href="http://nonfifafootball.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/azerbaijan-protest-to-fifa-after.html">Azerbaijan FA complaining to FIFA</a> about their participation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The final pot is set to include Abkhazia, <b>Darfur</b>, <b>Tamil
Eelam</b> and Ellan Vannin. The latter host Monaco in their first international in
April and members of the Manx Independent Football Association will travel to
Sweden for the draw.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Kurdistan, Aramean Suryoye and the hosts will also send delegations
to the draw which is set to be conducted in the Jämtkraft Arena, home of
Swedish second-tier side Östersunds FK, at 14:00 local time.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The tournament, which has in effect replaced the N.F.-Board’s
VIVA World Cup, is set to be the largest non-FIFA event in history. It begins
on June 1<sup>st</sup> and concludes on the 8<sup>th</sup>. We will be covering
Monday’s draw via our Twitter service.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12286225047869660679noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214839603524077352.post-27584928786768905122014-03-17T10:49:00.000+00:002014-03-17T10:49:36.527+00:00Plans taking shape for Micronesian Games on Pohnpei<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The lineup for football at the 2014 Micronesian Games, which will be hosted on Pohnpei in July, is taking shape with 5 teams expected to feature.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNjSf_cYxWxfcdVC-RhxPOoi2Ikg4YsiA8tZV26bPLQr4wu79LGaXpvqEOFqjL9dHFeMQPZnI5tQ4QKvRjuN5msy-kEdVItoDLAkNEGOnTPMEbQV8K5Mv84bfzbG5drmx-N7Pj76P0U-k/s1600/1798954_4059092093667_199466927_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNjSf_cYxWxfcdVC-RhxPOoi2Ikg4YsiA8tZV26bPLQr4wu79LGaXpvqEOFqjL9dHFeMQPZnI5tQ4QKvRjuN5msy-kEdVItoDLAkNEGOnTPMEbQV8K5Mv84bfzbG5drmx-N7Pj76P0U-k/s1600/1798954_4059092093667_199466927_o.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Pohnpei state squad after training last week</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Micronesian region is arguably the least developed and documented in terms of the sport and the event, set to take place from 20th to the 27th, will be the first football tournament in the games since 2001. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3 of the states that make up <b>Micronesia</b>, Yap, Chuuk and Pohnpei, contested that last event and the sides will again be in action this summer. Paul Watson, <a href="http://nonfifafootball.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/interview-2-december-2012-former.html">former manager of Pohnpei and Micronesia</a>, has been on the island the last month preparing the team.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Palau</b> are also expected to send a team. The island nation of just 20,000 people has only fielded a national side once when they lost 12-1 to the Northern Mariana Islands and 15-2 to Guam at the 1998 Micronesian Games. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">FA president and national team coach <a href="http://nonfifafootball.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/interview-6-april-2013-palau-football.html">Charles Mitchell </a>will draw his side from 15 or so Palauans playing in the PFA Adult League and at high school. The PFA hope to join East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) after communication with the OFC (Oceania Football Confederation) broke down.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">EAFF members Guam, by far the strongest Micronesian team and the only FIFA side, were going to send a ‘C’ team but have since decided not to as their factious relationship with the Guam National Olympic Committee (GNOC) continues. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Guam FA isn't tied to their Olympic Committee in any way and they select players who wouldn't meet Olympic standards as there is no such thing as a Guam passport. The rift means there will be no football team at the games.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Despite this the <b>Northern Mariana Islands</b> contacted the tournament organisers last week enquiring about entering. Also part of the EAFF the CNMI team made their <a href="http://nonfifafootball.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/challenge-cup-baptism-of-fire-for.html">Asian Football Confederation debut </a>earlier this year having become associate members in 2009.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6gzKxfxW_zpMN8Me_1OOZrdrXgWYdGjKxKoJHv8RBD5IDRGpYiFEyyMr91kkpxyMNJlyAYtc8gDq9oYk-Hx9qXPz26NpEk6zQb7mE1aNVEUFI_KBNrlBKIkiT6l9oOPtElNoUyLfLj5g/s1600/1599507_698689753507078_1202510875_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6gzKxfxW_zpMN8Me_1OOZrdrXgWYdGjKxKoJHv8RBD5IDRGpYiFEyyMr91kkpxyMNJlyAYtc8gDq9oYk-Hx9qXPz26NpEk6zQb7mE1aNVEUFI_KBNrlBKIkiT6l9oOPtElNoUyLfLj5g/s1600/1599507_698689753507078_1202510875_o.jpg" height="235" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The location for the new pitch in Palikir</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The level of opposition will probably suit the Blue Ayuyu’s more but they await news of the 2015 EAFF preliminary qualifiers, which are scheduled for July to August, before committing to sending a team.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">OFC associate members <b>Kiribati</b> hoped to send a team but it seems increasingly unlikely due to a lack of finance. There was no interest from the <b>Marshall Islands</b> or <b>Nauru</b>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The likely group of 5 will play out over the week at the College of Micronesia campus in Palikir. A new pitch is currently being built after the Japanese Embassy in Micronesia gave a grant of $120,000. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The top 4 sides will then meet in the semi-finals before placement matches for the gold, silver and bronze medal positions. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12286225047869660679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214839603524077352.post-26086800966829863412014-03-15T19:37:00.000+00:002014-03-16T17:21:01.648+00:00Guernsey to meet Jersey after 4-0 win on Alderney<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 13.5pt;">Muratti
holders <b>Guernsey</b> scored 3 goals in the opening 25 minutes as they ran out 4-0
winners at plucky <b>Alderney</b> in the semi final today.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbdxwd85MNMhuwcDvPQoEK9qO-CQ3-lOhh7g-BX4f8M42KjsXJoKuHWtC-IzehR2dOMKnfYY496-Svwl-tgcQakEWF7_R90qdg0AW2-i-tvQoOhsUi9SgCLaIdwiaDO5zGV7BqBjn7iW8/s1600/_59084467_dsc_0173_angusmackay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbdxwd85MNMhuwcDvPQoEK9qO-CQ3-lOhh7g-BX4f8M42KjsXJoKuHWtC-IzehR2dOMKnfYY496-Svwl-tgcQakEWF7_R90qdg0AW2-i-tvQoOhsUi9SgCLaIdwiaDO5zGV7BqBjn7iW8/s1600/_59084467_dsc_0173_angusmackay.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Guernsey FC defender Mackay scored the 2nd</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Alderney
made a positive start to the game and in the 9<sup>th</sup> minute Ross
Benfield forced a save from Tom Creed, who was making his debut.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">However
in the 11<sup>th</sup> minute the visitors took the lead when Guernsey FC
midfielder Tom de la Mare fired beyond Jamie Leband.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Guernsey
kept up the pressure and in the 18<sup>th</sup> minute they doubled their lead
as Angus Mackay took advantage of some slack defending.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">With
the visitors cruising Leband was forced into some smart saves. However with 25
minutes on the clock it was 3 when defender Tom Martin, making his
international debut, finished coolly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The
windy conditions were having an effect on play and despite some further
Guernsey pressure it was 3-0 at the break.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It
took the Muratti holders 9 minutes to add another goal in the second half.
Belgrave striker Craig Young, who has scored in Guernsey’s last 2 Muratti
games, made it 4-0 with a fine solo goal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The
relentless attacks continued and Mackay saw his effort splendidly tipped over
by Leaband in the 69<sup>th</sup> minute before Dave Rihoy shaved the bar with
14 minutes to go.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Despite
the permanent pressure Alderney held out for a respectable defeat, their best
Muratti effort since 2010 and a best result against Guernsey since 2007. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The
holders will travel to Jersey in May for the final. For Alderney a meeting with
Sealand over the summer is likely.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i>Match information -</i></b><br />
<b><i> </i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i>Score: </i></b><i>Alderney 0 – 4 Guernsey</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i>Goals</i></b><i>: Tom de la
Mare 11’, Angus Mackay 18’, Tom Martin 25’ Craig Young 54’</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.85pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i>Alderney XI: </i></b><i>Leband; Aldcroft, Foster, Vizard, Conancen,
Atkins; Johns [Lawrence 71’], Benfield [Olliver 58’], McCormack; Stretton
[Blackham 66’]; McCulloch.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.85pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.85pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 13.85pt;"><i>Guernsey XI: </i></b><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 13.85pt;">Creed;<b> </b>D Martin [Larkin 59’], Mackay,
Geall, T Martin; de la Mare, Bourgaize, Marley; Pereira, Young, Rihoy.</i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12286225047869660679noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214839603524077352.post-540779133772464272014-03-12T10:26:00.000+00:002014-03-12T10:34:33.066+00:00Alderney prepare for Muratti visit of weakened Guersney<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A weakened <b>Guernsey</b> team travel to <b>Alderney</b> on Saturday for
the annual Muratti semi-final.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjkiCXZ3-Tm0n_hsrbQkmQZ_gkH1woFrgdM5PbB8bOnuQgZ1XsU2pe6W3QIyxw-k4WlA9lf5fr9kc3fMLhR1kMkE7L9ApUsBbtmY_d9-xZ2M0y9FJGrqtc4VPVcwGwt_JKMgZDxjLmmns/s1600/pic2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjkiCXZ3-Tm0n_hsrbQkmQZ_gkH1woFrgdM5PbB8bOnuQgZ1XsU2pe6W3QIyxw-k4WlA9lf5fr9kc3fMLhR1kMkE7L9ApUsBbtmY_d9-xZ2M0y9FJGrqtc4VPVcwGwt_JKMgZDxjLmmns/s1600/pic2.jpeg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The sides last met in the 2012 semi final</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Steve Sharman’s visitors, who have won the last 2 finals
against Jersey, have named 6 players from club side Guernsey FC including Angus
Mackay who will captain the team.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">8 members of the squad are uncapped including 5 from Priaulx
League side North. Striker Craig Young scored also plays at North and scored in
<a href="http://nonfifafootball.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/guernsey-champions-of-channel-islands.html">last year’s final</a> as well as the previous meeting with Alderney in 2012 which
ended up 7-0 to the visitors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Simon Geall also scored in that Muratti semi-final trouncing
and will feature on Saturday. Aside from the Muratti Guernsey have played
little representative football since Guernsey FC were formed in 2011.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A side far from full strength lost out to both Jersey and
the Isle of Man at the FA International Shield in Gibraltar in June 2012 a year
after losing in the final of the Island Games on the Isle of Wight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The club side, currently chasing promotion from the Ryman
Division One South (8<sup>th</sup> tier) in England, have left the
representative side in second place in terms of footballing priority with large
crowds watching the islands best players week in week out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On the other hand their hosts have, somewhat surprisingly,
become active in the non-FIFA scene ever since hosting Sealand in August 2012. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Last year the squad travelled to the Isle of Man for the
Tywnald Hill Tournament and <a href="http://nonfifafootball.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/tynwald-triumph-for-classy-occitania.html">were competitive in a group</a> containing club side
hosts St Johns United and N.F.-Board members Raetia.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Having narrowly lost 3-2 to the Swiss side they then fell to
a 2-1 defeat to the Sealanders in the 5<sup>th</sup>-place match. The island
play as a club in the Guernsey 2<sup>nd</sup>-tier and warmed up nicely for the
Muratti with a 6-1 win over Centrals last weekend. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGQREXR-HlYXX9kuxuNSq2yWS9xskTLE3UTXqPOn3RzP69NpS1CFdgt_ZYIRVmPWjAJVXSbbwMIxAc2oliDyMa7bkXNtGWqHMuKdYBG3jk-IfOPp0hXYOpYzRQaXNciRGMEV_bDn5h0bI/s1600/1010976_592220877489052_1348324659_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGQREXR-HlYXX9kuxuNSq2yWS9xskTLE3UTXqPOn3RzP69NpS1CFdgt_ZYIRVmPWjAJVXSbbwMIxAc2oliDyMa7bkXNtGWqHMuKdYBG3jk-IfOPp0hXYOpYzRQaXNciRGMEV_bDn5h0bI/s1600/1010976_592220877489052_1348324659_n.jpg" height="226" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Alderney at the Tynwald</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Alderney lost last year’s<a href="http://nonfifafootball.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/jersey-ran-riot-against-alderney.html"> semi 9-2 to Jersey</a>, the first time
they’d scored more than 1 goal in any game since 1961. Astonishingly they’ve
won the Muratti before - a 1-0 win over Guernsey in 1920. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">However their all-time record since their maiden Muratti appearance
in 1907 is played 107, won 2, drawn 1 and lost 102, with the most recent of
those victories coming in the 2003 Island Games.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://nonfifafootball.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/interview-7-may-2013-alderney-captain.html">Captain Andy Lawrence</a>, on the subject of the weakened
visiting team, told us “<i>you could look at it as a bit disrespectful towards the
Muratti but they have pumped a lot of money into GFC so I guess that is their
priority now</i>”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He went on to say “<i>we have a young squad which is pleasing. We
are looking at the Island games in Jersey next year and hopefully we can arrange
a few games against Sealand</i>”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">All bar 3 of the Alderney squad are island-based. Defender
Jason Atkins, striker Josh McCulloch and Ross Benfield all play amateur
football in the UK with the latter pair studying at university. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Star player Josh Concanen plays semi-professionally in
England for Tiverton Town, the same level as Guernsey FC, but was not released
by his club.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After the game last year Jersey complained about having to
travel to Alderney but Lawrence explained “<i>it's
crucial for the semi to stay here. We
don't have the money they have and that date is a huge part of our calendar - without
it we would really struggle to survive”.</i></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12286225047869660679noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214839603524077352.post-73450363946988997412014-03-05T21:08:00.001+00:002014-03-06T14:00:54.348+00:00Improved Gibraltar slip to 2-0 Estonia defeat<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Gibraltar produced a vastly improved performance as they were unlucky to lose 2-0 to Estonia this evening in only their 3rd game as a UEFA member.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhas8j7klf-PCfFCD6Lhsf2jyyuOcEo2QG2FUtMc_rJ-wA_RzniWZXva6bh6uNpiYLky1y9pU1Lx4DJWP0Hf06EEgQyLgf_XTtQVnM_k6CCvMWEVpGZSvOsNpRW578cDc2Zajsq08DfxFM/s1600/Bh_QXggIQAA11FP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhas8j7klf-PCfFCD6Lhsf2jyyuOcEo2QG2FUtMc_rJ-wA_RzniWZXva6bh6uNpiYLky1y9pU1Lx4DJWP0Hf06EEgQyLgf_XTtQVnM_k6CCvMWEVpGZSvOsNpRW578cDc2Zajsq08DfxFM/s1600/Bh_QXggIQAA11FP.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Gibraltar competed well</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Liam Walker, who missed the loss on Saturday, demonstrated his talent in the 9th minute when his quick feet beat 2 Estonia defenders before he curled a fine dipping effort just over Sergei Pareiko's goal.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Despite the positive start the visitors took the lead </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">a minute later when Konstantin Vassiljev produced a fine through ball which David Artell missed, and Dmitri Kruglov easily prodded home for his 3rd Estonia goal.</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Unlike the game on Saturday Gibraltar kept their heads up and in the 17th minute Segei Pareiko did well do deny Joseph Chipolina from distance.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">8 minutes after that and Chipolina again went close, this time firing a clever Yogan Santos cross over the bar. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">The chance of the half for the hosts came in the 37th minute. Chipolina played in Ryan Casciaro down the right and his low cross found Robert Guilling who blasted over from close range.</span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVgu0eZLZ99FvxxcCyvBL6KQwF4vDckHg6yBKVqs7jqcctQfXAREb1hqdQMXG_usA357GGw-RMSYWUIKm0IAsP_KkuVfVp74gVvzLh6NNRWowFfccC_0i-m9_rlkShvjNFn3gMiYyb7zk/s1600/Bh_NQY0IEAAjz_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVgu0eZLZ99FvxxcCyvBL6KQwF4vDckHg6yBKVqs7jqcctQfXAREb1hqdQMXG_usA357GGw-RMSYWUIKm0IAsP_KkuVfVp74gVvzLh6NNRWowFfccC_0i-m9_rlkShvjNFn3gMiYyb7zk/s1600/Bh_NQY0IEAAjz_2.jpg" height="200" width="148" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The teams respect the anthems</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Half time substitute Kyle Casciaro shot wide early in the second period as the non-FIFA side continued to press.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">However the game lulled with both teams failing to break each other down as the half went on.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">With 20 minutes to go Vassiljev went close from distance before Gibraltar's chance of the game, courtesy of a powerful Joseph Chipolina effort, was expertly saved by Pareiko.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">In the 80th minute the Estonians secured the victory when substitute Sander Puri picked out Rimo Hunt inside the box and the Kazakhstan-based striker hit a fine first-time effort to make it 2-0.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Gibraltar will have one more friendly before the 2016 European Championship qualifiers get underway. They will travel to Tallinn for a rematch on May 26th.</span><span style="line-height: 13.5pt;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></b></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 13.5pt;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i></i></span></b></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="line-height: 13.5pt;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Match information -</i></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i> </i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><b>Score: </b>Gibraltar 0 - 2 Estonia</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i></i></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><b>Goals</b>: Dmitri Kruglov 11', Rimo Hunt 80'</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i></i></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.47px;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 13.5pt;">Gibraltar XI: </span></i><span style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Perez; R. Casciaro, Santos, Artell, Higginbotham [Reoch 88'], R. Chipolina; Payas [J-P Duarte 67'], J. Chipolina [Sergeant 90'], Guilling [D. Duarte 61']; Walker; Priestley [K. Casciaro 46'].</i></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12286225047869660679noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214839603524077352.post-4887596078002542642014-03-05T15:55:00.001+00:002014-03-05T15:56:41.432+00:00Kosovo draw with Haiti in historic first FIFA friendly<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">In their first friendly to be approved by FIFA <b>Kosovo</b> drew 0-0 with Haiti in difficult conditions in Mitrovica this afternoon.</span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH4XBARUIvoYbiQSRYF6ot538YV1gU6JH4wN4Pb7-Bi2X44-NaCiYIbbnCKMfaUOe_9bWxDqfzGTtDHpl-QrHKPBPfy-mZtj01w0EFz0fT6G27kOb6L1axfb3JEoPe4rdm0R_YRsZ5YnA/s1600/YES.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH4XBARUIvoYbiQSRYF6ot538YV1gU6JH4wN4Pb7-Bi2X44-NaCiYIbbnCKMfaUOe_9bWxDqfzGTtDHpl-QrHKPBPfy-mZtj01w0EFz0fT6G27kOb6L1axfb3JEoPe4rdm0R_YRsZ5YnA/s1600/YES.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Conditions were difficult in Mitrovica</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Both teams struggled to get used to the boggy pitch during the early stages of the game, which were scrappy.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">The Haitians were the first to generate a clear opening in the 27th minute but in a 4 on 3 situation Kervens Belfort's shot was blocked by Avni Pepa.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">The hosts went straight up the other end and threatened, Albert Bunjaku only just beaten to Ilir Azemi's through ball by goalkeeper Dominique Jean-Zéphirin.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Kosovo were cranking up the pressure and had a great chance to take the lead just before the half hour mark.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Another fine Azemi pass found Shpëtim Hasani in space inside the box but the Örebro player, in an attempt to find Bunjaku, squared the ball straight to Mechack Jérôme.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Kristian Nushi fired over from distance before Azemi missed the best chance of the first half in the 38th minute. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Enis Alushi burst down the left wing and put in a dangerous ball which Bunjaku missed. However Hasani, at the back post, pulled the ball back for Azemi but the </span></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Greuther Fürth striker saw his effort superbly blocked by Frantz Bertin.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">The second half, much like the start of the first period, began in a cagey fashion with few chances created by either team.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">With less than 15 minutes to go substitute Faton Toski, who plays in the 2. Bundesliga with FSV Frankfurt, curled a free kick inches wide of the top corner of Jean-Zéphirin's goal.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEkpNdBgUpfJS5RRINHQQPSQkHCuL8gdh8Bqs1VMu5pSvyM8v5DPTeRAmFMM92KZ68wr4A-uomYeCBhqBlk2b8cWwGY2iWsvDkPEuSmTJeojAYFEQQD3izqBvxCSCbgzCOxVMVQggulk4/s1600/Bh-JjdLCUAIqQQo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEkpNdBgUpfJS5RRINHQQPSQkHCuL8gdh8Bqs1VMu5pSvyM8v5DPTeRAmFMM92KZ68wr4A-uomYeCBhqBlk2b8cWwGY2iWsvDkPEuSmTJeojAYFEQQD3izqBvxCSCbgzCOxVMVQggulk4/s1600/Bh-JjdLCUAIqQQo.jpg" height="176" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Kosovo team</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">With both sides making a number of substitutes the game eventually died out though Jean-Eudes Maurice tested Samir Ujkani in the 89th minute.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Liridon Krasniqi went close at the other end in stoppage time but t</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">he non-FIFA side will ultimately be happy with a draw, as will new Haiti manager Marc Collat who could easily have lost his first game in charge.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Feasibly the Kosovars could be in action again this year. Albania, who only have one game lined up during the May/June international break, would be the most realistic option.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i style="line-height: 13.5pt;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></i></div>
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<i style="line-height: 13.5pt;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Match information -</span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Score</b>: Kosovo 0 -0 Haiti</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.479999542236328px; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 13.5pt;"><b><i>Kosovo XI</i></b><i>: </i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Ujkani; Pepa [Rexhepi 65'], Sadiku [Krasniqi 71']</i></span></span><i style="background-color: transparent; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">, Hasani, Raskaj; Perdedaj, Nushi, Gashi, Alushi; Bunjaku [Toski 71']; Azemi [Kastrati 57']</i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12286225047869660679noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214839603524077352.post-34100144012486979792014-03-01T20:52:00.000+00:002014-03-03T09:39:33.779+00:00Gibraltar crash back down to earth with heavy Faroe Islands loss<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">The reality of UEFA international football dawned on <b>Gibraltar</b> tonight as they crashed to a 4-1 defeat at home to the Faroe Islands despite taking the lead through captain Roy Chipolina.</span></span><br />
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgftkO7_E8Lw8-2IW78v8KIJikJsaSAxjiNDPu4DozNTrfxeYoUtXNmfk6JAgBMWwTYoBG1jCUZw3ZXryy3dWXEa-8a0QlR8DgZtcCN_b-5kn-qR_dP7qvxgSp4yRjvSF93KSgqkyCUJY/s1600/BhqdnGAIcAAWTAa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgftkO7_E8Lw8-2IW78v8KIJikJsaSAxjiNDPu4DozNTrfxeYoUtXNmfk6JAgBMWwTYoBG1jCUZw3ZXryy3dWXEa-8a0QlR8DgZtcCN_b-5kn-qR_dP7qvxgSp4yRjvSF93KSgqkyCUJY/s1600/BhqdnGAIcAAWTAa.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The teams line up for the anthems</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">The Faroes got off to a strong start, which would be the case during the whole first half, and after 5 minutes 19-year old Aalborg striker </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Gilli Sørensen headed wide from a good position.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">The visitors were enjoying most of the ball but fell behind after 21 minutes when captain Roy Chipolina, who scored against the Faroese in 2011, was left unmarked at the far post to head home Joesph Chipolina's corner.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">The goal was Gibraltar's first as a UEFA member but they failed to build on their lead and only 5 minutes alter former Newcastle United striker </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Jóan Símun Edmundsson equalised with a splendid left-footed effort from 25-yards out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">The game completely turned in the 31st minute. Captain </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="background-color: transparent;">Fróði Benjaminsen played in Christian Holst and the Silkeborg player saw his deflected shot fly beyond Jordan Perez to give the Faroes the lead with his fourth international goal.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="background-color: transparent;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Gibraltar were all at sea, stark contrast to their solid performance against Slovakia in November, and Ryan Casciaro cleared an effort off the line before the visitors were given the chance to extend their lead from the penalty spot in the 40th minute.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Joeseph Chipolina fouled Edmundsson but Benjaminsen, winning his 80th cap, fired the ball over the bar. It was a let off for the non-FIFA side who were lucky to go in at half time just 2-1 down after Holst missed 2 good opportunities.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoK5GNujL_8Db_hypNTOGN86bZix3fI8rCI9Te8RKn57KORa9-8k7aTUDRO6C4m8X7wr1_temH74WMPulGKJUf_mxg3bFWJ2NSc79SxYv904rEHQ_iUcBxz4Rvfas_6wcSorFnkmYYccM/s1600/Reece+Styche+Gibraltar+v+Faroe+Islands+International+h5R5CGl6MPsl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoK5GNujL_8Db_hypNTOGN86bZix3fI8rCI9Te8RKn57KORa9-8k7aTUDRO6C4m8X7wr1_temH74WMPulGKJUf_mxg3bFWJ2NSc79SxYv904rEHQ_iUcBxz4Rvfas_6wcSorFnkmYYccM/s1600/Reece+Styche+Gibraltar+v+Faroe+Islands+International+h5R5CGl6MPsl.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Reece Styche challenges for the ball</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Allen Bula made 3 changes at the break but the Faroes Islands heaped more misery on the hosts in the 59th minute when Hallur Hansson brought the ball down inside the box and beat Roy Chipolina before finishing past Perez. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">There was a rare chance for Gibraltar in the 65th minute when Aaron Payas, winning his first cap, volleyed wide. However it got worse for the hosts in 68th minute when</span> Holst headed home Edmundsson's clever cross to make it 4.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Substitute Jean-Paul Duarte came close with 5 minutes to go but ultimately the night was one of disappointment and learning for Gibraltar.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">They will be in action again in 4 days when they host Estonia, whose manager Magnus Pehrsson was in the stand today, with another 20:00 kick off. </span></span></div>
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<i style="line-height: 13.5pt;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i style="line-height: 13.5pt;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Match information -</span></b></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Score</b>: Gibraltar 1-4 Faroe Islands</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 13.5pt;"><span style="line-height: 13.5pt;"><i><b>Goals</b>: Gibraltar - Roy Chipolina 21'. Faroe Islands - </i></span></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><i>Jóan Símun Edmundsson 26', Christian Holst 31', 68', Hallur Hansson 59'</i></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 13.5pt;"><b><i>Gibraltar XI</i></b><i>: Perez; </i></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><i>Sergeant [K. Casciaro 46'], J.Chipolina [Artell 86'], Higginbotham, R Chipolina; R.Casciaro; Lopez [J-P. Duart 57'], Payas, D. Duarte [Priestly 46'], Guilling [Santos 46']; Styche [Hernandez 71']. </i></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12286225047869660679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214839603524077352.post-30305272440737506282014-02-27T23:54:00.003+00:002014-03-05T09:43:38.417+00:00Experienced internationals in Kosovo squad for Haiti game but Blatter says no to nationality switch<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Albania goalkeeper Samir Ujkani and Swiss striker Albert Bunjaku are two of several
big name players who've accepted the call up for<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><strong>Kosovo’s</strong><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>friendly with Haiti next<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://nonfifafootball.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/haiti-opposition-for-historic-kosovo.html">week</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghRKx8zhfa7vFNwVyNOlehtr1x3mrCF2hzijHks6-GvWjcRMw-KGyUqnxc44vKG4uzEuOeKIPytdmhkEGxWrJJKIEMtwwFRuG2oEZqyK_snIpk7s3pvb0vfEdnIaE7JMsVM3PCGJKQHos/s1600/switzerland_1708424c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghRKx8zhfa7vFNwVyNOlehtr1x3mrCF2hzijHks6-GvWjcRMw-KGyUqnxc44vKG4uzEuOeKIPytdmhkEGxWrJJKIEMtwwFRuG2oEZqyK_snIpk7s3pvb0vfEdnIaE7JMsVM3PCGJKQHos/s1600/switzerland_1708424c.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Bunjaku played in the 2012 World Cup</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">However
FIFA president Sepp Blatter has privately told the Football Federation of
Kosovo (FFK) that should they ever join the organisation players capped by
other nations such as Xherdan Shaqiri cannot be called up.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Haiti match, Kosovo’s first since FIFA permitted them to
play their<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://nonfifafootball.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/non-fifa-football-updates-is-back.html">members</a>,
has been heavily documented after Manchester United youngster Adnan Januzaj
rejected the offer to play in Mitrovica on Wednesday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">However
Palermo goalkeeper Ujkani, a member of Sweden’s Euro 2012
squad, and Kaiserslautern captain Bunjaku have accepted the call up from the
Football Federation of Kosovo.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
Bunjaku played at the 2010 World Cup for Switzerland against Chile and teammate
Enis Alushi, who was born in Mitrovica, is also in the squad which will be
co-managed by former England assistant manager Tord Grip.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A
big name who was set to feature against Haiti is Sweden midfielder Emir Bajrami. The Panathinaikos player, however, won't feature having picked up an injury.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A
number of players from the Norwegian Tippeligaen have been called up, most
notably Flamur Kastrati who won the 2013 title with Strømsgodset and was on
course for a Norway cap after progressing through the youth teams.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sandnes
Ulf pair Avni Pepa and Anel Raskaj are also included with the latter
having played 90 minutes in a 3-2 defeat in Kosovo’s last international against
Albania in 2010.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Basle
defender Taulant Xhaka was rumoured to feature but the FFK have said they
didn't bother approaching any Swiss players currently involved in the national
team with the World Cup in Brazil on the horizon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIypWKOW5iqzpo2ATGYAqFJ8RGcU27tOzOJQA2CHFzQ6Yiqc51oNXhFWEnhbbKQObWzEiEoNhO-tBYFRnqPw0KFrnRP2gxs6SFxSKg-3YnDFCEIlPT1y8Wty84p07Aek4OmJbPSLDBcds/s1600/72747-C7rf5EhAfkoX5FPDs5MgRA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIypWKOW5iqzpo2ATGYAqFJ8RGcU27tOzOJQA2CHFzQ6Yiqc51oNXhFWEnhbbKQObWzEiEoNhO-tBYFRnqPw0KFrnRP2gxs6SFxSKg-3YnDFCEIlPT1y8Wty84p07Aek4OmJbPSLDBcds/s1600/72747-C7rf5EhAfkoX5FPDs5MgRA.jpg" height="200" width="141" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Shaqiri couldn't switch</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
Norway international Valon Berisha, who is enjoying a fine Europa League
campaign with Red Bull Salzburg, was also tipped to play but is no longer
likely to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As
the match isn’t between two FIFA nations players previously capped for other
countries, such as Bajrami and Bunjaku, can play. However Sepp Blatter has
privately told the FFK that should they ever join FIFA this will not be
allowed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The
rules state that if a ‘new’ country is formed and join FIFA then players capped
by the nation that went before it can switch allegiance (in this case Serbia)
but not those who've played for other nations (such as Albania and
Switzerland).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As
a result Blatter has said that players such as Granit Xhaka, Valon Behrami and Shaqiri,
as well as Bajrami and Bunjaku, would never be able to switch nationality and
play for Kosovo.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The
FFK asked for a special intervention should they ever join but Blatter was
firm. A cynical view would suggest that he doesn’t want his home nation Switzerland
decimated by such a ruling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">However
with Januzaj turning down the request and Shaqiri privately telling friends he
would never stop playing for Switzerland perhaps the news is not as damaging as
it could be. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Regardless
Kosovo are a long way off FIFA membership and games such as the one against
Haiti look like the only action they will see in the immediate future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The
choice of Mitrovica by the FFK as the location for the Haiti game, which has a
strong Serbian stronghold in the north, has left the Football Association of
Serbia unhappy but helpless.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdctdodgPv0QtfAaQI0JyS0VXUtrcoGnJ7F2PK3f8pa3txzGBHpgtTYilgTMT826ph3PiQgJFbVpn7qy2EOsOZwbY0fyZL0mzAtAWfJsbEccXN8hVM1p_HNArg-ToxOblAB_V0Go8h-xo/s1600/1978656_716513198393152_537833409_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdctdodgPv0QtfAaQI0JyS0VXUtrcoGnJ7F2PK3f8pa3txzGBHpgtTYilgTMT826ph3PiQgJFbVpn7qy2EOsOZwbY0fyZL0mzAtAWfJsbEccXN8hVM1p_HNArg-ToxOblAB_V0Go8h-xo/s1600/1978656_716513198393152_537833409_n.jpg" height="118" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">A poster for the game</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The
city is divided with Partizan Kosovska Mitrovica from the north competing in
the Serbian pyramid whereas Trepça, whose Adem Jashari stadium is the venue
next week, play in the Kosovo Superleague.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
Over 17,000 tickets have been sold for the game which kicks off at 15:00 local
time (14:00 UK). The full Kosovo squad is expected to be named tomorrow.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Kosovo squad - </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Goalkeepers: Samir Ujkani (Palermo [Italy]), Kushtrim Mushica (FC Prishtina) and Julian Bibelaj (Eintracht Frankfurt II [Germany]).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Defenders: Avni Pepa (Sandes Ulf [Norway]), Loret Sadiku (Helsingborg [Sweden]), Lum Rexhepi (Honka [Finland]), Shkodran Metaj (Emmen [Netherlands]) and Shpëtim Hasani (Örebro [Sweden]).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Midfielders: Anel Raskaj ((Sandes Ulf [Norway]), Ardian Gashi (Helsingborg [Sweden]), Enis Alushi (Kaisrerslautern [Germany]), Enis Bunjaku (Eintracht Frankfurt II [Germany]), Fanol Prededaj (Energie Cottbus [Germany]), Faton Toski (FSV Frankfurt [Germany]), Flamur Kastrati (Strømsgodset [Norway]), Kristian Nushi (St. Gallen [Switzerland]) and Liridon Krasniqi (Fethiyespor [Turkey]).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Forwards: Alban Bunjaku (Sevilla Atlético [Spain]), Albert Bunjaku (Kaiserslautern [Germany]), Bersant Celina (Manchester City academy [England]) and Ilir Azemi (Greuther Fürth [Germany]).</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12286225047869660679noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214839603524077352.post-36740502244361050992014-02-27T10:29:00.000+00:002014-02-27T10:29:48.976+00:00Srpska team to face Udinese as they press FIFA for international opportunities<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Republika Srpksa</b> will send an age-capped team to Italy next
week to face Serie A side Udinese as they continue to press FIFA for the right to play friendlies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKABb1axQPEresR0Zd7LyzRf2e_fjUa7GZ5fVGSDAoMjfWeBZdpJwCwQGRNhGtoeNjdqwLdnKmiypbvfnj_6H2DLPUxqZ-CirpI_VqNFuRX9GqUOGZRh-8W3FPhm95HZ3e-YtJNNvGKJY/s1600/srpska1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKABb1axQPEresR0Zd7LyzRf2e_fjUa7GZ5fVGSDAoMjfWeBZdpJwCwQGRNhGtoeNjdqwLdnKmiypbvfnj_6H2DLPUxqZ-CirpI_VqNFuRX9GqUOGZRh-8W3FPhm95HZ3e-YtJNNvGKJY/s1600/srpska1.jpg" height="178" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Srpska wish to have FIFA's approval to play friendlies</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The entity will travel to Udine on 5<sup>th</sup> March with
a group of players, either under-21 or under 23, drawn from the Serbian, Montenegrin
and Bosnian top-flight as well as other leagues in Europe. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Manager Branimir Tulić is expected to name a low-key squad
drawn from different Balkan leagues with Vojvodina midfielder Nikola Popara and
FK Leotar’s Stefan Udovičić likely to be included. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Zoran Nikić, with 6 goals in
the Bosnian top-flight this season for Radnik Bijeljina, could start in attack.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Tulić will name the squad this week just months after FIFA
refused a request by the Football Association of Republika Srpska (FS RS) to
play Serbia in a full senior friendly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">FIFA’s decision comes despite the Football Federation of
Bosnia and Herzegovina (FF BiH) declaring in July last year that they have no
objection to Srpska playing friendlies. The rejection also came at the same time
FIFA allowed Kosovo to play.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sepp Blatter visited the Serbian FA last summer and was reportedly
supportive of such a game going ahead. Indeed FS RS president Mile Kovačević
said at the time “the date of the game will be solved very soon, either August,
September or October”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Srpska have faced FIFA blockage before. In 2008 an under-19’s
game against Serbia was cancelled as well as a proposed match with Macedonia. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXn9o9p98NV1ZhAzXUVL9DXtKeEqtRWKtzq7diE7GZWlXMqP4toX2a15B2n8lE5thnory-JccSPkZQRms8moeYZiXsGXXKgK_z_9uE-XVMeLkErriTlsfqBm1CS51irYgfyhI5hEmD5iw/s1600/srpska2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXn9o9p98NV1ZhAzXUVL9DXtKeEqtRWKtzq7diE7GZWlXMqP4toX2a15B2n8lE5thnory-JccSPkZQRms8moeYZiXsGXXKgK_z_9uE-XVMeLkErriTlsfqBm1CS51irYgfyhI5hEmD5iw/s1600/srpska2.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The FS RS & FF BiH work together</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Youth teams have recently been more accepted by FIFA however
with the under-15 side meeting both Hungary and the Serbs in the past year gaining
a creditable draw with the latter in November.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The FS RS have stated before that they do not want
international recognition and want to remain part of the FF BiH but wish to be
allowed to play friendly international matches once a year.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Allegedly several big name players have expressed interest
in playing for a Srpska representative side including Borussia Dortmund
defender Neven Subotić and Zdravko Kuzmanović of Internazionale. Chelsea’s
Marco Marin, currently on loan at Sevilla, is another.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12286225047869660679noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214839603524077352.post-23122554849582441202014-02-26T13:16:00.000+00:002014-02-27T18:07:03.516+00:00Gibraltar prepare for Faroes and Estonia double-header<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Gibraltar</b> will play as UEFA members for the second time on Saturday when they host the Faroe Islands before Estonia travel to the Mediterranean the following Wednesday.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2s_A96ccwrE0-2FY4Qcqjob_vAdgryq1B_jf6eed-T2iWZxKWEQ3cn6dIwrbF2SCkx1vSnAvPkxBpsHeUfKQys9LpoV5FZpSg1mRBS4QIUD_u_nWuLmu_aZu9Kr9vn3NQcmSV-9k6mYI/s1600/11gibfaroe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2s_A96ccwrE0-2FY4Qcqjob_vAdgryq1B_jf6eed-T2iWZxKWEQ3cn6dIwrbF2SCkx1vSnAvPkxBpsHeUfKQys9LpoV5FZpSg1mRBS4QIUD_u_nWuLmu_aZu9Kr9vn3NQcmSV-9k6mYI/s1600/11gibfaroe.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Gibraltar met the Faroes in 2011</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The non-FIFA members, who were dealt a tough <a href="http://nonfifafootball.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/tough-euro-2016-draw-for-gibraltar.html">Euro 2016 qualification draw on Sunday</a>, will return to their Victoria Stadium having played the November draw with Slovakia Estádio Algarve in Portugal.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There are several new faces in the <a href="http://nonfifafootball.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/5-england-based-players-in-gibraltar.html">Gibraltar squad for the games</a> including 7 overseas players. Among them Wycmobe Wanderers striker Reece Styche and Wrexham’s David Artell are in line for their first caps.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Gibraltar have in fact hosted the Faroes before in 2011. A slightly weakened visiting side went down 3-0 that day but goalkeeper Jordan Perez told us they won’t underestimate Saturday’s opponents “of course this time round will be a complete different story though we too are reinforced by English [based] players”.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Faroes will undertake a training camp in Malaga after the match and manager Lars Olsen is expected to name promising Midtjylland defender Sonni Nattestad in his squad as well as Motherwell goalkeeper Gunnar Nielsen.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For the hosts former Portsmouth midfielder Liam Walker, who now plays in Israel with Bnei Yehuda, and Preston North End’s Scott Wiseman have only been released by their clubs for the Estonia match.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Saturday’s game kicks off at 20:00 (19:00 UK) and we will provide live updates via our Twitter service @NoNFIFAfootball.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12286225047869660679noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214839603524077352.post-43173228861133599052014-02-24T17:29:00.000+00:002014-02-24T17:29:10.573+00:00Sealand shock Chagos Islands with record win<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Sealand</b> produced a fine first half performance yesterday as they ran out 4-2 winners against the <b>Chagos Islands</b> in a friendly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdnHflvnGCvlCbmIaS0AwLGFfn1ZC7ztHTGIKlsGQXlWBrmqFcQ9MPQOivDBC3QzZEuLwDqfynVxTKkOk6TtHN47qHovr3xGf-XWL4lrMFH5NhDGE73XivnOGv1XJa1W7PDyev5KYfWms/s1600/IMG_3994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdnHflvnGCvlCbmIaS0AwLGFfn1ZC7ztHTGIKlsGQXlWBrmqFcQ9MPQOivDBC3QzZEuLwDqfynVxTKkOk6TtHN47qHovr3xGf-XWL4lrMFH5NhDGE73XivnOGv1XJa1W7PDyev5KYfWms/s1600/IMG_3994.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Jackson and Bertrand contest a high ball</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The 2 goal margin meant it was the N.F.-Board members largest victory at international level whereas defeat for the Chago</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">ssians was their first at non-FIFA level.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Sealanders got off to a perfect start when former Aldershot Town player Dan Smith chested the ball down and volleyed in a fine opener after 5 minutes. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The early part of the game was end to end and on 20 minutes midfielder Deveeyen Soopramayen got the vocal Chagossian support on their feet as he was first to react after Miguel Mandarin's shot came back off the post.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">However Sealand began to dominate what was a physical game and just after the half hour mark a fine cross from the right by Sam Churchman was nodded home by defender Jack Field. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">6 minutes later and it was 3 as Smith bettered his first goal with a sensational curling shot which left Mike Sakir in the Chagos goal with no chance - a strike that saw Smith become joint top scorer for Sealand.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Sealanders were dominating and the tricky Smith was upended in the box in the 42nd minute but he blew his chance of a hat-trick when his penalty crashed back off the bar. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Chagossians started to get back into the game in the second period with Mandarin going close before Gael Ono was denied by Will Dukes from close range. </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYDAoUE2bA3jUltPOtI6h5J9Ohx8Qm28-L99Ys4fAlqdQHlU5Wsg7zgO4KgfaIuAomhug8PQIX8n9-o2GdPfr1oRezvYuiPoxG6AxTn3IFc51UlGtbQr9KmM2n4INUWCXJ86y4eAdas-c/s1600/IMG_4012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYDAoUE2bA3jUltPOtI6h5J9Ohx8Qm28-L99Ys4fAlqdQHlU5Wsg7zgO4KgfaIuAomhug8PQIX8n9-o2GdPfr1oRezvYuiPoxG6AxTn3IFc51UlGtbQr9KmM2n4INUWCXJ86y4eAdas-c/s1600/IMG_4012.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Smith curls in his second goal</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sealand would extend their lead in the 60th minute when Josh Killen's cross inadvertandly curled into the top corner of Sakir's net.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Chagos Islands rallied and almost responded immediately when Lorenzo Isau let fly from distance only for Dukes to produce a marvellous save. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">They eventually pulled a goal back when Soopramayen slotted home after being put through but despite some late pressure the score stayed the same.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Chagossians have proposed a return game in April which Sealand have initially agreed too. A photo gallery from the game can be accessed via the Sealand National Football Association <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.265328740294666.1073741838.148855931941948&type=1">here</a>.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Match information -</span></b></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Score</b>: Sealand 4-2 Chagos Islands</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 13.5pt;"><span style="line-height: 13.5pt;"><i><b>Goals</b>: Sealand - Dan </i></span></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><i>Smith 5’, 37’ Jack Field 31’ Josh Killen 60’. Chagos Islands - Deveeyen Soopramayen 20’ 78’</i></span></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i>Sealand XI</i></b><i>: Dukes; Gunn [Beiboer 53'], Field, Wilson [Addington 46'], Loveland; Squires [Mulvany 66], Press, Smith; Churchman [Sharp 63'], Killen [Wilkie 86']; Jackson [Hughes 46' [[Simpson 76']].</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><b>Chagos Islands XI</b>: Sakir; Uranie, Augustin, Isau, Bertrand; Soopramayen, Mandarin, Narainen, Alexis; Ono, Lindor.</i></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12286225047869660679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214839603524077352.post-21282276550082405042014-02-23T12:30:00.000+00:002014-02-24T17:00:02.472+00:00Tough Euro 2016 draw for Gibraltar<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Gibraltar</b> were dealt a baptism of fire as they were drawn
with Germany, Ireland, Poland, Scotland and Georgia in their debut European
Championship qualification campaign.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZyScekEHKH_cDNQe5mo99gtKUVRy0VEiz_NsBpqwN0IF1WH7ywoh8xx1sfHIxEmCWpqtGaTlLgVgOq0MmtnNTRgD5h8Pc9-sLdR0aIvdNA_eDRQ-hncDoqlTdTxygzYYQatg7nadTIY/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZyScekEHKH_cDNQe5mo99gtKUVRy0VEiz_NsBpqwN0IF1WH7ywoh8xx1sfHIxEmCWpqtGaTlLgVgOq0MmtnNTRgD5h8Pc9-sLdR0aIvdNA_eDRQ-hncDoqlTdTxygzYYQatg7nadTIY/s1600/download.jpg" height="218" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Gibraltar draw 0-0 with Slovakia in November</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">UEFA’s newest members were initially placed with Spain in
group C but were moved to group D with European giants Germany, who have won
the championships 3 times in their history.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Gibraltarians will open up their campaign in September
at their temporary home of Portugal against one of the co-hosts of Euro 2012,
Poland. They then travel to Dublin in October before their most realistic
chance of gaining some points at home to Georgia.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Manager Allen Bula told the BBC that his aim was “to reach
the play offs” with captain Roy Chipolina expressing his delight at playing
against players such as Lukas Podolski and Robert Lewandowski.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Gibraltar take on the Faroe Islands on Saturday at the
Victoria Stadium before hosting Estonia. Our preview of the 2 games will be up
next week.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12286225047869660679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214839603524077352.post-56965627063611872492014-02-19T08:25:00.000+00:002014-02-20T11:18:47.240+00:00Chagos Islands join ConIFA ahead of Sealand game<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The <b>Chagos Islands</b> return to non-FIFA action when they take
on <b>Sealand</b> this Sunday having been accepted by ConIFA as the organisations newest
member yesterday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Chagossians applied to the new non-FIFA organising body
only a few weeks ago and chairwomen of the UK Chagos Support Association Sabrine Jean told
us after Tuesdays news “<i>we are delighted to be accepted. Now we hope
to find a sponsor and play more games</i>”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicwGFGXVEtRDAVZw_veAC2WyALdYQ5m139G60yczlVEG7Gmi6lqiZqM9B2S8iRks57bNcvwDtRmDw2aUApR8ZwN7HUkwBbI2T1Xgv-lKBYN6AX_gbQCSiApUB95tmP5acY5MIGW6c2rx8/s1600/300+IMG_0261a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicwGFGXVEtRDAVZw_veAC2WyALdYQ5m139G60yczlVEG7Gmi6lqiZqM9B2S8iRks57bNcvwDtRmDw2aUApR8ZwN7HUkwBbI2T1Xgv-lKBYN6AX_gbQCSiApUB95tmP5acY5MIGW6c2rx8/s1600/300+IMG_0261a.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Miguel Mandarin beats the Sealand defence in 2012</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The team have not played since a 3-1 victory over the
Sealanders in May 2012. Like that fixture the game will be played in Surrey in
England at the home of Godalming Town, who are members of the Southern League.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In preparation for the game joint managers Gianny Augustin
and Gino Augustin have conducted daily training sessions this week. Captain
Bruno Bertrand and attacker Miguel Mandarin are set to feature on Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Prior to the Sealand victory 2 years ago the Chagos Islands
have played just once, comfortably beating Raetia 6-1 in 2011. A change in personnel
at the Chagossian FA has meant a struggle to play games over the last few
months.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sealand, something of a controversy in non-FIFA football, will
play their first international since a mixed trip to the Tynwald Hill
Tournament on the Isle of Man in July. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Seals will use an almost identical squad to the one that
lost narrowly to Tamil Eelam, were comprehensively beaten by Occitania and won
against Alderney last summer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Sealand National Football Association recently had an
application to ConIFA turned down but have plans to travel to Monaco in May as
the chances of a 2014 VIVA World Cup become more unlikely.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Defender Chris Gunn told us “<i>the lack of information from
the N.F.-Board is disappointing but we will continue to play in games and
tournaments where we can. Hopefully we can start 2014 well with a result on
Sunday</i>”.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12286225047869660679noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214839603524077352.post-85341882586771751302014-02-17T17:39:00.000+00:002014-02-17T17:39:23.581+00:00Ellan Vannin announce Monaco friendly<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The newly formed Manx Independent Football Alliance, representing the <b>Isle of Man</b>, have confirmed their first friendly at home to <b>Monaco</b> on April 6th.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgijBGl22z4f_xyNbrXLJ9RWBgewdneS21yl_zaE-UuoadWJPPbfKjzmonyoUs2wb5pSGuYY2fDL4aCxYHK_ltUWoqJZ8ok7qISJAuOEGcjkXz1ULhIqsqT_oKR-fEvWPq_6E00JLds3PQ/s1600/1780774_419462598185979_1273252367_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgijBGl22z4f_xyNbrXLJ9RWBgewdneS21yl_zaE-UuoadWJPPbfKjzmonyoUs2wb5pSGuYY2fDL4aCxYHK_ltUWoqJZ8ok7qISJAuOEGcjkXz1ULhIqsqT_oKR-fEvWPq_6E00JLds3PQ/s1600/1780774_419462598185979_1273252367_n.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Crest..the MIFA logo</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The game will be played at The Bowl in the island's capital Douglas and after initial problems with the Isle of Man FA MIFA recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding which set out a working relationship between the 2 organisations.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The MIFA team, Ellan Vannin, was formed last year by Malcolm Blackburn after his club side St John's United hosted the Tynwald Hill International Tournament which included 5 non-FIFA teams. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Blackburn saw the Isle of Man FA side as not truly representative of Manx people and as a result criteria for MIFA selection require being born on the island or having a parent or grandparent who was.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ellan Vannin will compete in the inaugural ConIFA World Football Championship and Blackburn, who is vice-president of the new organisation, sees Monaco as perfect preparation "<i>we believe they're not far off our standard but at the same time we're hopeful of a victory. It's a historic occasion for the island</i>".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixEkOkVVTMvJJK3_hoq4IbMwI5ZIDSt5Z_Q0o32ikb5xRwWrZ1kOQghr2WPN2tZBJ5aifW8cbw_fybfLJ70IQ_xXSoTulW1DpDkIYteqkCdsLw0VUpw_Rgb_0Mj5PrBen-9QaN0hbOloU/s1600/2851079947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixEkOkVVTMvJJK3_hoq4IbMwI5ZIDSt5Z_Q0o32ikb5xRwWrZ1kOQghr2WPN2tZBJ5aifW8cbw_fybfLJ70IQ_xXSoTulW1DpDkIYteqkCdsLw0VUpw_Rgb_0Mj5PrBen-9QaN0hbOloU/s1600/2851079947.jpg" height="140" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Youngster..Blackpool's Richardson</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For the World Football Championship overseas players will likely be called upon but for the Monaco game the Ellan Vannin time will be almost all island-based. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">However Rowan Richardson, a junior player at English Championship side Blackpool, and former Republic of Ireland under-16 captain Seamus Starkey could also feature.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Monegasque Football Federation secretary Laurent Revollon told us "<i>we are so excited to travel to the Isle of Man</i>". Monaco will fly from Nice to Liverpool and stay overnight on Merseyside before heading over by boat to Douglas. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Monaco last played in June, <a href="http://nonfifafootball.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/first-half-goals-secure-monaco-win.html">defeating the Vatican City 2-0</a>, and before that their last game was a 2-1 loss at home to Raetia. The principality have plans for summer matches against Sealand and the Vatican.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12286225047869660679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214839603524077352.post-52970883566053896402014-02-13T01:46:00.001+00:002014-02-13T01:49:15.808+00:00Haiti the opposition for historic Kosovo friendly<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Kosovo</b> will host Haiti on March 5<sup>th</sup> less than 2
months after FIFA confirmed a set of regulations which allow the Kosovar national
team to play member nations in friendlies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir49lk85bwGnM7eHhrYyFSFHttH0aguBcBVBSLiBsyMcklsueiNo6gzU3HzjOmbZex7D4YIFfK4_FPctKIkJIBsd1ina9J8eCX0CWSgEWrHkFv1uyTj0oWcHls84hME_5QoNxhD1I98IM/s1600/f33a99afc0b268c05db2f121c38f64a2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir49lk85bwGnM7eHhrYyFSFHttH0aguBcBVBSLiBsyMcklsueiNo6gzU3HzjOmbZex7D4YIFfK4_FPctKIkJIBsd1ina9J8eCX0CWSgEWrHkFv1uyTj0oWcHls84hME_5QoNxhD1I98IM/s1600/f33a99afc0b268c05db2f121c38f64a2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Venue..the Olimpik Adem Jashari stadium</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Football Federation of Kosovo made the announcement
yesterday with the northern town of Mitrovica, interestingly not capital city
Pristina, the venue for the game. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The 29,000 capacity Olimpik Adem
Jashari, home of KF Trepça, will host the match at 15:00 local time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It is unclear how
many players previously capped by other nations will be called up as number of big Kosovar names have already played for FIFA members in competitive internationals. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Swiss
midfielder Valon Behrami and the Chievo pair Përparim Hetemaj and Samir Ujkani,
who play for Finland and Albania respectively, are rumoured to feature.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://nonfifafootball.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/after-fifa-and-serbia-meetings-future.html">In November we created a dream Kosovo XI which includes XherdanShaqiri and Adanan Januzaj</a>. It is unlikely that either players will feature
against Haiti however. The Caribbean side will play under new manager Marc
Collat for the first time in Mitrovica.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Kosovo’s last international was against Albania in 2010 when
they lost 3-2 in Pristina, which came 3 years after a fine 1-0 win over Saudi
Arabia. The only other side to have beaten the Kosovars was Northern Cyprus in
2005.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12286225047869660679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214839603524077352.post-37517401730071603232014-02-11T11:25:00.002+00:002014-02-13T01:12:46.093+00:005 England-based players in Gibraltar squad for March double-header<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Allen Bula has named 3 uncapped English-based players in the <b>Gibraltar</b> squad which will take on the Faroe Islands and Estonia on March 1st and 5th respectively.</span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq-tnCPSYHAOqvaGnhgwdYu5PYSXCEdRbxfEIstJQnrbrachZWmrxe1mG3gdc59VD5wkAInhirLx8GUvdiQZvnPwfGqftIDhBMxxL7w5yAuld6kB8HfwqXNli9ybwEt8g_Ko5VL7Xaopo/s1600/BF+STYCHE-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq-tnCPSYHAOqvaGnhgwdYu5PYSXCEdRbxfEIstJQnrbrachZWmrxe1mG3gdc59VD5wkAInhirLx8GUvdiQZvnPwfGqftIDhBMxxL7w5yAuld6kB8HfwqXNli9ybwEt8g_Ko5VL7Xaopo/s1600/BF+STYCHE-3.jpg" height="320" width="202" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Wycombe' Styche was prolific at non-league level</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After securing a fine 0-0 draw with Slovakia on their UEFA debut in Portugal in November Gibraltar return to the Victoria Stadium for both games with Wrexham’s David Artell and Wycombe Wanderer’s Reece Styche both being selected for the first time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Southampton acadamy goalkeeper Will Britt has been named in the Estonia squad being named in the Estonia squad with r</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">ecently retired Danny Higginbotham and Adam Priestley of non-league Farsley called up again after they made their debuts in the Slovakia game last year. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Preston North End's Scott Wiseman will only feature in the Estonia game. </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Liam Walker, who recently moved to Bnei Yehuda in Israel, is also included but only for the Estonia game.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Lincoln’s Roy Chipolina remains captain with 7 other players from Gibraltar’s leading club in the squad, including goalkeeper Jordan Perez and midfielder Daniel Duarte.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Gibraltar hosed the Faroe Islands in 2011 and ran out impressive 3-0 victors. They play Estonia for the first time and will travel to Tallinn for a return game in May. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Gibraltar must play UEFA qualifiers in Portugal as the Victoria Stadium is only suitable for friendlies. The draw for 2016 European Championship qualification will take place on February 23rd with the Gibraltarians in pot 6. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Full squad - </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Goalkeepers</b>: Jordan Perez (Lincoln), Jamie Robba (Lynx), Will Britt (Southampton [England]) and Kevin De Los Santos (Man United 62).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Defenders</b>: Roy Chipolina (Lincoln), Ryan Casciaro (Lincoln), Matt Reoch (Man United 62), Danny Higginbotham (retired), Jack Sergeant (Man United 62), Scott Wiseman (Preston North End [England]), David Artell (Wrexham [England]) and Yogan Santos (Man United 62).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Midfielders</b>: Liam Walker (Bnei Yehuda [Israel]), Robert Guilling (Lincoln), Joseph Chipolina (St Joseph's), Jeremy Lopez (Man Untied 62), Daniel Duarte (Lincoln), Aaron Payas (Glacis United), Tyson Ruiz (Lynx) and Liam Clarke (Lincoln).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Forwards</b>: Kyle Casciaro (Lincoln), George Cabrera (Lincoln), Adam Priestley (Farsley [England]) and Reece Styche (Wycombe Wanderers [England]).</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12286225047869660679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214839603524077352.post-15997852174383513042014-02-07T09:49:00.000+00:002014-02-11T10:46:39.671+00:00French Guiana and Réunion make friendly plans<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>French Guiana</b> will host <b>Réunion</b> on June 7th as the Indian Ocean side head to South America for the first time. The Ligue de Football de la Guyane have also expressed a desire to play <b>Guadeloupe</b> in April ahead of the 2014 Caribbean Cup qualifiers.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKxauYfJnSVSCQnvLZ-g7fQzCKGwdlQzvyK82wln7MFpTaTVmGpT96aZFYP4k-dcqgUGvJzQ9HUaLOT8czGzWRFhj8Ro6Gui4zKqBjw9Th555VymBNOtGeFlw4heXezNMKrFsdFZ0cgI4/s1600/RUN-GUYANE_JDM_119874.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKxauYfJnSVSCQnvLZ-g7fQzCKGwdlQzvyK82wln7MFpTaTVmGpT96aZFYP4k-dcqgUGvJzQ9HUaLOT8czGzWRFhj8Ro6Gui4zKqBjw9Th555VymBNOtGeFlw4heXezNMKrFsdFZ0cgI4/s1600/RUN-GUYANE_JDM_119874.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Réunion (green) last met French Guiana (yellow) in 2012</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After the French Football Federation cancelled the Coupe de l’Outre-Mer (here) some associations have acted swiftly to fill the representative team void. Réunion won the final tournament in 2012, defeating their June hosts 2-0 in the group stage.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">French Guiana also hope to meet Guadeloupe in Cayenne in mid to late April with both sides keeping an eye on the 2014 Caribbean Cup. Both sides could potentially enter at either the pre-qualifying stage in May or first qualification round in September.</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12286225047869660679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214839603524077352.post-5054568824639303442014-02-06T12:35:00.000+00:002014-02-06T12:35:52.137+00:00Azerbaijan protest to FIFA after Nagorno-Karabakh step up non-FIFA involvement <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA) have written a letter to FIFA protesting against the planned participation of<b> Nagorno-Karabakh</b> in this summer’s ConIFA World Football Cup in Sweden.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_1QoqZw1DejVvTwNQrU7Yt6j0XoNarIwrth5GQsMCRMuvVOnk8H8k5mnv2D6zYVocqqX3UqoeDlWXorgQ5B6RkzSyNTkF8zOl2NbSfh5EKo-U6G-EBALiZlkBX9xE1G6MgCbFrRP3GA/s1600/Nagorno+Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_1QoqZw1DejVvTwNQrU7Yt6j0XoNarIwrth5GQsMCRMuvVOnk8H8k5mnv2D6zYVocqqX3UqoeDlWXorgQ5B6RkzSyNTkF8zOl2NbSfh5EKo-U6G-EBALiZlkBX9xE1G6MgCbFrRP3GA/s1600/Nagorno+Logo.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Breakaway..the Artsakh Football Association</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The AFFA, who like Azerbaijan view the unrecognized republic as their territory, have also sent letters to the Swedish Football Federation and ConIFA themselves who are expected to release a statement tonight.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Nagorno-Karabakh representative team made their non-FIFA debut in 2012 when they played Abkhazia twice, drawing 1-1 in the proclaimed Abkhazian capital Sukhumi in September before running out 3-0 victors on home turf in Stepanakert the following month. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Abkhazians are also set to play in Sweden but the Georgian Football Federation are not thought to be challenging their participation as the tournament isn't held under the aegis FIFA’s, and thus they can’t hinder any teams entry.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Should any side drop out of the new competition, which is set for the first week of June, then South Ossetia and the County of Nice are on the waiting list. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12286225047869660679noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214839603524077352.post-35191577759629750212014-02-02T14:00:00.001+00:002014-02-02T14:00:49.639+00:00Roman Abramovich and Caribbean Football Union plan tournament on Saint-Barthélemy<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is working with the Caribbean
Football Union in order to fund an international tournament on <b>Saint-Barthélemy</b>
in June.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyySkDtaJYCsQPWtjTdkKrLlDqqvwVvSwJADlY2fYGocMt6MtesxOSVVnxGVrYMqLGw_IKaFJ0AtKwSlzdm0fmXwUaf4-hmr-ixYwOszCsdcXV-3oXqRVqSGRDYowIWgeLUWJPqDWF4r4/s1600/600304_10150915182293244_1320452078_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyySkDtaJYCsQPWtjTdkKrLlDqqvwVvSwJADlY2fYGocMt6MtesxOSVVnxGVrYMqLGw_IKaFJ0AtKwSlzdm0fmXwUaf4-hmr-ixYwOszCsdcXV-3oXqRVqSGRDYowIWgeLUWJPqDWF4r4/s1600/600304_10150915182293244_1320452078_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Funded..the stadium Abromovich paid for in Saint-Jean</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Fellow non-FIFA teams <b>Sint Maarten</b> and neighbouring
<b>Saint-Martin</b> have expressed interest in playing along with a handful of FIFA
members with the event set to be coordinated by the Caribbean Football Union.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Abramovich has property on the picturesque French overseas collectivity
and after meeting the local government and football association agreed to pay
for a tournament to take place during the first week of June.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The world’s 50<sup>th</sup> richest man has already financed
the building of a stadium and resort for guest teams in Saint-Jean, in the
north of the island, which allowed the Saint-Barthélemy national team play a
first-ever home game in 2012 against Guadeloupe.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Abramovich paid for a similar tournament for clubs last year
and also helps provide coaches to develop football on island, which is home to
just over 9,000 people. New non-FIFA organisation ConIFA have expressed plans
to provide online coverage, in tandem with the CFU, of the tournament.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12286225047869660679noreply@blogger.com2