World Cup 2002The Soccerphile World Cup 2002 Archives Click here to go to the current Soccerphile.com
11/11/02
World Cup 2002The British singer/songwriter Phil Collins will compose the theme song for Euro 2004, UEFA announced Wednesday. The decision has been met with discomfort in some quarters in Portugal; the Portuguese were not even consulted in the decision, and the song is not likely to reflect Portuguese culture or tradition. Popular singer Pedro Abrunhosa called the choice "an insult".
Europe's wealthiest clubs, known as the G14, announced in effect a 'gentleman's agreement' to limit players' salaries to 70% of total turnover beginning in the 2005-6 season. There are no regulations in force to ensure clubs abide by the agreement which is totally self-imposed. The move comes as cash-flow problems have overtaken several big names including Italian club Fiorentina which was forced to fold earlier in the year.
Manchester United's chief executive Peter Kenyon said: 'This is about establishing the overall principle of gaining control of costs in football. There are too many clubs who are technically bust and that's not healthy for the long-term success of the sport.' Manchester United, which has the highest revenues in the sport has seen its wage bill rise by an enormous 40% to US$10.,5 million last year. The G14 is presently made up of 18 clubs: Manchester United, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Barcelona, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Marseille, Paris St. Germain, Ajax Amsterdam, PSV Eindhoven, FC Porto and four newcomers Arsenal, Valencia, Bayer Leverkusen and Lyon.
Republic of Ireland coach Mick McCarthy has quit his US$500,000 post following two defeats in qualifying for the 2004 European championships in Portugal.
After being the centre of a kidnap scare earlier in the week, Victoria Beckham is back in the news. The singer, known as 'Posh' Spice during her Spice Girl days, has informed English second division club Peterborough United
Warner Bros., the creators of Bugs Bunny, have won from UEFA the licence to be exclusively responsible for the marketing of products related to the Euro 2004 championship. The company will also be responsible for creating the EURO 2004 mascot. Will it be a rabbit?
The Portuguese Football Federation are to appoint only their second-ever foreign coach to lead the team to the 2004 European Championships which they will host, according to federation chairman Gilberto Mandail. Former Brazilian coach Luis Felipe Scolari may be the man with the plan for the Portuguese game.
1994 World Cup winning coach Mario Zagallo will take charge of Brazil for the friendly international game against South Korea in Seoul on November 20. AC Milan's Rivaldo has asked to be excused from the game citing personal reasons.
Argentina have named a completely European-based squad for the friendly against Japan on November 20. Barcelona's Javier Saviola and Juan Roman Riquelme are both included for a game labelled 'The Revenge' in the Argentinian press as the team seeks to prove to the Japanese public that their early exit from the World Cup was a fluke. Veteran striker Gabriel Batistuta has been omitted from the 20-man squad prompting his retirement from the
JAPAN - Kashima Antlers beat Urawa Reds 1-0 in front of a record 56,064 crowd at Tokyo's National Stadium to win the Nabisco Cup (Japan's League Cup) for a third time. The deciding goal came on the hour mark from Antlers' Mitsuo Ogasarawa. The loss was a big disappointment for the Urawa side, who have yet to win a domestic trophy despite being Japan's best-supported club.
Newly-promoted Oita Trinita may offer a contract to disgraced Brazilian striker Will, who was sacked by Yokohama F. Marinos for kicking one of his own teammates during a match with Jubilo Iwate in October. Will's first taste of the J.League was in Oita and the club still hold his registration.
SOUTH KOREA - South Korean soccer legend Hong Myung Bo has decided to join Major League Soccer champions Los Angeles Galaxy becoming the first Korean player to play in MLS. The 33-year-old former South Korean captain, who has 135 caps and appeared in four World Cups, joins the Galaxy from the K.League's Pohang Steelers and will complete his move at the end of the K.League season.
World Cup 2002Monochrome Soccer Images from the Far East
Color photos of Japan World Cup 2002 I
Color photos of Japan World Cup 2002 II
Color photos of Japan World Cup 2002 III
The Soccerphile World Cup 2002 Archives
Click here to go to the current Soccerphile.com
Soccerphile Ltd - All Rights Reserved