Review 2004
July: Football all around the world as President tours
From: FIFA
July was a month dominated by continental championships as nations battled for
glory in Europe, South America and Asia. FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter was
taking in just as many continents on a three-week tour from Vanuatu to Lima as
the Centennial year reached its midway point. And there was the welcome news
that Diego Maradona was on the way to some form of recovery in a Buenos Aires
clinic after his health scare of April.
Even before the Olympics, Greece was the word on everyone’s lips in July after
their sensational triumph at Euro 2004. There was less of a surprise in South
America in the world’s oldest international championship as Brazil defeated
Argentina on penalties, while Zico’s Japan were moving into top gear on their
way to winning the Asian Cup.
FIFA’s humanitarian programme was also in full swing with dozens of nations
from all around the world benefiting from its collaboration with UNICEF and the
“Sports-in-a-box” venture. Meanwhile more associations were qualifying for
world championships: Australia for FIFA Futsal World Championship Chinese
Taipei 2004, and six nations from Europe, Spain, Turkey, Switzerland, Ukraine,
Italy and Germany, for the FIFA World Youth Championship Netherlands 2005.
FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking
After their impressive performances at the European championship, winners
Greece (14th up 21), runners-up Portugal (12th up 10) and semi-finalists
Czech Republic (4th, up 7) made the most significant moves of the year up to
then. There were also plenty of FIFA World Cup qualifiers going on around the
globe with USA (7th, up 2), Trinidad and Tobago (63rd, up 14), Cuba (66th, up
14) making strides from the CONCACAF region and Ghana (71st, up 18) and Libya
(70th, up 12) doing likewise from Africa.
2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™
Having played their championship in January, Africa was the only continent
staging 2006 FIFA World Cup™ qualifiers in July. The northern countries had
shone during the African Cup of Nations in Tunisia but the month’s matches
confirmed the predominance of black African nations in qualifying on the long
road to Germany.
Key dates:
– July 4: Greece win UEFA European Championship after beating hosts Portugal
in the final
– July 6: Copa America commences in Peru
– July 7: FIFA President Blatter embarks on three-continent tour
– July 17: Asian Cup kicks off in China
– July 24: Spain win UEFA U-19 Championship and are joined by Turkey,
Switzerland, Ukraine, Italy and Germany as Europe’s representatives in the
FIFA World Youth Championship Netherlands 2005
– July 25: Brazil win Copa America after beating Argentina in the final on
penalties
– July 29: Australia qualify from Oceania for FIFA Futsal World Championship
Chinese Taipei 2004
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