ROAD TO THE 2018 FIFA WORLD CUP™

Programme 1

[Link] The longest FIFA World Cup™ qualifying campaign in history.

[Link] 208 teams set out on the journey - only 31 made it all the way to join the
hosts in Russia

[Link] Brazil were the first to get there – Peru the last

[Link] 868 games producing over 2400 goals

[Link] Australia played a record 22 matches

[Link] With 16 goals, Poland’s Robert Lewandowski was the leading marksman
along with Saudi Arabia's, Mohammed Al Sahlawi, and the UAE's, Ahmed
Khalil.

[Link] The Islamic Republic of Iran became the first team in qualifying to keep 12
consecutive clean sheets.

[Link] 9 wins and a draw saw Spain set a record of 63 matches unbeaten in FIFA
World Cup™ qualifiers.

[Link] Both Iceland and Panama made it to the finals for the first time.

[Link] While Nigeria boasted the youngest squad,

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[Link] This will be the first time three Nordic countries, and four Arab nations have
qualified.

[Link] The 21st edition of the tournament will feature 64 matches in 11 cities.

[Link] This is the Official guide to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™

[Link] We kick-off our team profiles with the host nation and biggest country on
earth - Russia.

[Link] The former Soviet Union played in 7 FIFA World Cups™ between 1930 and
1990, with Russian stars on the team. Their best place finish was fourth in
1966. This will be Russia’s 4th appearance and as hosts they’ll hope for a
return to the glory days.

Aleksandr Kokorin, Forward

[Link] Well, I hope it's going to be a massive festival, considering Russia's
experience in running mega events. Just think about the Olympics.

[Link] And we can see how the cities have transformed and new stadiums have
appeared.

[Link] Now we're just waiting for the world to arrive. I think it will be a great
festival.

[Link] In the 8 years since Russia were awarded the tournament, the team has
struggled, finishing third in their group at the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ – losing
to Belgium and drawing with Korea Republic and Algeria.

[Link] However, the side hope that home advantage will improve their performance
this summer.

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 Aleksei Miranchuk, Midfielder
[Link] Of course it will help, there is even a phrase ‘home-field advantage’ and I’m
sure that playing at our own grounds, in front of our fans will help us a lot.

[Link] As hosts, Russia didn’t have to go through qualifying for the finals, focusing
instead on a series of friendly matches, as well as making an appearance at
the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup.

Aleksandr Yerokhin, Midfielder

[Link] I don’t think it’s much harder than if we’d taken part in the qualifying stage.

[Link] We are playing friendly matches against serious opponents.

[Link] These are serious matches, which we are treating responsibly, not seeing
them as friendly games, but as training and control games.

[Link] Results on the pitch didn’t quite go their way at the FIFA Confederations Cup
– narrow defeats to Portugal and Mexico leaving them 3rd in their group. That
said, the team has taken positives from the experience.

Yuri Zhirkov, Midfielder

[Link] In the Confederations Cup we played against the best teams in the world,
so that was a significant experience.

[Link] I would say we’re expecting it to be similar at the World Cup.

[Link] While friendly results have also been mixed, they’ve scored an impressive 15
goals since the beginning of 2017.

Yuri Zhirkov, Midfielder

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[Link] Well, we’re playing friendly matches against good opponents, and the last
ones are probably against the strongest national teams.
[Link] So, I think we’ll be well-prepared by the beginning of the tournament.

[Link] The man with the job of leading Russia is Stanislav Cherchesov. Appointed
after the team’s disappointing performance at Euro 2016, the former
goalkeeper has plenty of FIFA World Cup™ experience, having played in the
1994 and 2002 editions.

Stanislav Cherchesov, Coach

[Link] It’s a privilege for me. This is our attitude, we enjoy the work and carry out
the responsibility. But no good work is done without a smile, therefore we
take things seriously but stay relaxed.

[Link] Tactics wise, Cherchesov has made a number of changes, selecting a new
generation of players and getting the side to play with a back three in a 3-5-2
formation.

Stanislav Cherchesov, Coach

[Link] Well, the key changes are obvious. Firstly, we’ve rejuvenated the team, and
now have young players in the spine of the team. I can name them, if you
wish. It is Kuzyayev, Zobnin, Golovin, Dzhikiya and Lunyov, who’s already
played in a couple of games.

[Link] Who else...? The Miranchuk brothers. Obviously, the team is rejuvenated.

[Link] Secondly, we’ve changed the formation – with 3 centre backs now. Our
national team hasn’t played this way before.

[Link] The current side has an impressive strike force and good creative players.

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[Link] In twins Aleksei and Anton Miranchuk, and Aleksandr Golovin, Russia have
three young, technical midfielders who could make their mark at the FIFA
World Cup™.
Aleksandr Yerokhin, Midfielder
[Link] Well, I think our style is quickly getting out of defence and into attack, crisp
attacking play with pace.

[Link] I think our team can be associated with unity and character, which could
also describe the mood of the whole country, not just the football.

[Link] The hosts star-player this summer could well be two-time Russian Player of
the Year, Fyodor Smolov.

[Link] The forward who plays his club football for Krasnodar is regarded as the best
player in Russia’s top flight and has scored 11 goals in 28 international
appearances.

Aleksei Miranchuk, Midfielder

[Link] If we talk about Fyodor in particular, he is a brilliant footballer. He proved
this not just over one season, but two or three. This means he is highly
professional, a top level player.

[Link] While Russia were the lowest ranked team in the FIFA World Cup™ draw,
their x-factor could be home advantage, playing in front of their own fans, in
stadiums and conditions they know well.

Aleksandr Kokorin, Forward

[Link] The fans are very important for us at our home championship. So, the more
of our fans come, the better we’ll play.

[Link] Russia is a huge country and many of the visiting teams won’t be used to the
distances they will have to travel between games.

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[Link] This won’t be anything new for the hosts, where such distances are common
place for the Russian stars who play in their domestic league.
Aleksandr Yerokhin, Midfielder
[Link] Well, it’s not really a long way for us. So, I think we’ll find it easy. Especially,
because we’ll have 3-4 days between the matches to get ready.

[Link] So, there is nothing special about it, we’ll have enough time to travel from
one city to another and get ready for the match.

[Link] Drawn in group A, this is Russia’s chance to shine. In 2002 Korea Republic
made the most of home advantage. Russia hope to do the same.

Stanislav Cherchesov, Coach

[Link] Well, football is a sport and the World Cup is a sport of the highest
achievements. Therefore, we should target the top places.

Yuri Zhirkov, Midfielder

[Link] Of course, playing the World Cup in your home country is a great
achievement, as well as defending the honour of your country. And I think
the whole world will celebrate this World Cup.

[Link] And so the hosts finally learned their long-awaited opponents on 1st
December 2017, at the Kremlin Palace, Moscow, as a raft of FIFA World Cup™
legends joined former England forward Gary Lineker to decide the groups at
the official draw for the 2018 FIFA World Cup™.

[Link] Drawn in Group A, Russia will face Egypt, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia in the
eagerly-awaited curtain-raiser on 14th June.

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[Link] Group B sees current European Champions Portugal drawn with the Islamic
Republic of Iran, Morocco and 2010 World Champions, Spain, who beat their
Portuguese neighbours on the way to the trophy 8 years ago.

[Link] The last 3 winners have all come from the hardest group based on FIFA
rankings. This time that’s Group C, where France, Australia, Peru, and
Denmark all meet.

[Link] Group D sees debutants Iceland face Croatia, plus Nigeria and Argentina.
Drawn together for an amazing 5th time since 1994.

[Link] Surprise quarter-finalists in 2014, Costa Rica, will face Switzerland, Serbia,
and Brazil in Group E. The Central Americans suffered their heaviest finals
defeat to Brazil in 2002.

[Link] Defending champions Germany will face Mexico, Sweden and Korea Republic,
having only once lost to any of their Group F opponents – a semi-final defeat
to Sweden back in 1958.

[Link] Panama make their debut in group G, and will face Tunisia, England and
group seeds, Belgium.

[Link] And finally, Group H contains Poland and Senegal, plus Japan and Colombia,
who met at the last FIFA World Cup™ when Golden Boot winner James
Rodriguez made his mark on the tournament.

[Link] Next up we meet a FIFA World Cup™ legend who helped host the Draw in
Moscow, but made his name as the golden boot winner at Mexico 1986, Gary
Lineker.

Gary Lineker, Forward

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[Link] Well I was immeasurably excited to play in my first World Cup. It’s what
every player wants to do. But, it’s funny I got there and it was such a
difficult place to play. We played in Monterrey, it was 43 degrees
centigrade. It was just so hot. I remember walking out onto the pitch before
the game and thinking ‘how can we play football in this?’

[Link] England had arrived in Mexico hoping to emulate the success of 20 years
prior, when they lifted the trophy on home soil. Things did not get off to a
good start, as an opening defeat to Portugal was followed up by a stalemate
against Morocco. Having yet to find the back of the net, the Three Lions went
into their third game against Poland needing a result.

Gary Lineker, Forward

[Link] I’d gone a few games without a goal for England, my place was under threat
along with everyone else in the team because we had a bad start. Bobby
Robson stuck with me and played Beardsley, brought him on and it just
worked. But the first goal was vital, it changed everything. Gary Stevens
broke down the outside and just knocked a ball across the six yard box. I
gambled on where it might go, and thankfully on this occasion I gambled
correctly and it went exactly where I was hoping it would go. I’d just got in
front of the defender and knocked it in from obviously close range – I don’t
score from anywhere else.

[Link] After that you know the confidence comes back, bit of relief.

[Link] Few minutes later goal another one, then another, then I’ve got a hat-trick
and all of a sudden the world’s a different place. Without the first one my
life would be very different.

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[Link] Lineker added to his tally with two goals in the Round of 16 against Paraguay,
setting up a date with Argentina, led by their own attacking talisman, Diego
Maradona. A moment of controversy and a moment of genius settled the
game in favour of the eventual champions. While Lineker’s 81st minute goal
proved to be just a consolation, his six strikes in the tournament saw him
awarded the Golden Boot.

Gary Lineker, Forward

[Link] You know the World Cup is very kind to me, I’ve played in two of them,
won the golden boot in the first one and got to the semi-finals in the second
one, scored a few goals as well so I’ve got wonderful memories of both the
World Cups that I’ve played in. It’s for me the biggest sporting event in the
world and all the players love playing it. It’s a huge occasion, it’s the chance
that you’ve got to impress on the biggest stage of all, and it’s a special
event.

[Link] Throughout the course of the series we’re revisiting some of the greatest
goals, to take a fresh look at them using modern analysis.

[Link] We kick off the Hyundai Anatomy of a Goal, by travelling back to 1970 to
relive possibly the most iconic goal ever scored in a FIFA World Cup™ final.

[Link] For many fans, Mexico 1970 was the quintessential tournament. The first to
be broadcast in colour, Gordon Banks' amazing save for England, Gerd
Muller’s ten strikes for West Germany, and a Brazil side that proved why they
were simply the best in the world.

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 Tite, Coach (BRA)

[Link] Zagallo brought in players of extraordinary technical ability and moulded

them into a team. Rivelino, who played as a central attacking midfielder for
his club team, played out on the wing. Tostao was usually a number 10, but
played as a mobile number 9, to bring others into play, allowing them to
break into attack. Pele, who just cannot be compared to anything.

[Link] Brazil’s dominance culminated in a 4-1 victory over Italy in the final. Goals by
Pele, Gerson and Jairzinho set the scene, but it was Carlos Alberto's now
legendary goal that found its way into FIFA World Cup™ folklore.

[Link] The nine pass move began deep in Brazillian territory, with centre
forward Tostao tracking back into his own half to retrieve the ball.

[Link] A neat midfield triangle ends at the feet of Clodoaldo, who beats Gianni
Rivera before drawing in three further Italian players. The defensive
midfielder elegantly evades the tackles, before shifting the ball wide.

[Link] With Italy having lost their shape, Rivelino looks to exploit the space by
playing a long ball to Jairzinho who had drifted across to drag Giacinto
Facchetti out of position.

[Link] He plays the ball inside to Pele, who holds it. Tostao, now back in his usual
position, has spotted the run of Carlos Alberto and points it out to his strike-
partner. Without looking up, Pele rolls a perfectly weighted pass into the
path of the on-rushing full-back, who shoots first-time.

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[Link] Alberto fires a low, curving shot which travels past goalkeeper Albertosi and
crashes into the net.

[Link] Brazil’s victory had been capped by a goal of the highest quality, the move
going down in history, as the defining image of one of football's greatest ever
teams.

[Link] From 1970 we head back another 40 years for our FIFA World Cup™ First and
FIFA’s inaugural tournament.

[Link] This summer Russia will become the 17th Nation to host the FIFA World Cup
Finals™. During the course of the series we’ll be taking a glimpse at the other
16 countries that have helped to create the greatest show on earth. Europe
has hosted the tournament on 7 occasions, 6 times it’s been hosted in the
Americas and once in both Asia and Africa. The FIFA World Cup™ has grown
from the early tournaments in the 1930s to the most recent FIFA World Cup™
in Brazil where more than 3 Billion people tuned in to watch their heroes
compete on the global stage.

[Link] So we begin at the beginning and in 1930 it was back-to-back Olympic

Champions Uruguay who were awarded the honour of hosting the first ever
FIFA World Cup on the 100th Anniversary of their constitution for which they
constructed the 90,000 seater Estadio Centenario in the capital Montevideo.
FIFA would declare it a Monument of World Football in 1983 and it’s still in
use today.

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[Link] In the summer of 1930 France was one of just 4 European teams who made
the trip across the Atlantic Ocean to the inaugural tournament and there
were 13 teams in total when the FIFA World Cup™ got underway.

[Link] Frenchman Lucien Laurent would go down in history as the scorer of the first
goal, but it was the hosts and their fierce rivals Argentina that made the final
in front of 93,000 fans. Tens of thousands of Argentinians flooded across the
Rio Plata to be at the game, which had caught the imagination of the public.

[Link] The game was a repeat of the 1928 Olympic Final and Uruguay took the lead
early on courtesy of Pablo Dorado, but by half time Argentina were 2-1 up
with Guillermo Stabile scoring the second. He was already in the history
books as the scorer of a hat trick against Mexico earlier in the tournament.

[Link] But the second half belonged to Uruguay as the hosts netted 3 times with
Hector Castro wrapping up the victory.

[Link] Wild scenes followed the final whistle and the host’s 4-2 victory. Just 4 games
had secured them the inaugural FIFA World Cup™, but they won it with the
highest aggregate goal difference ever recorded: +3 goals per game. FIFA
President Jules Rimet handed over the trophy which would later be named
after him and a nation celebrated.

[Link] The FIFA World Cup™ was born. And the next stop would be in Europe four
years later…..

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[Link] To end the show we’re heading 10,000 kilometres South West of Moscow to
run the rule over the team that secured the third and final automatic place in
CONCACAF qualifying.

[Link] Panama, ranked 56 by FIFA at the start 2018 are the second smallest nation
heading to Russia and one of two teams making their debut at the finals.

[Link] So what can we expect from the team with the oldest average aged squad in
qualifying.

[Link] Panama kicked off the final phase of CONCACAF qualifying with a win, four
draws and two defeats in their first seven matches.

[Link] Lying outside the three automatic qualifying spots - their journey to Russia
seemed to be over following a 4 nil loss to the USA in the penultimate round
of matches.

Hernán Darío Gómez, Coach

[Link] Yes, the match we played against the United States was a complete disaster
in terms of management, players... We went wrong in all senses of the
word, with our tactics; we went wrong in a lot of ways. And it was just a
bad match, like all teams sometimes have…

[Link] They headed into their final match needing to beat Costa Rica, while hoping
the USA slipped up against Trinidad and Tobago.

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 Hernán Darío Gómez, Coach

[Link] In the first half of the match, we weren’t playing at the level of a World Cup
qualifying team. They were nervous, they were worried, they weren’t calm
and they strayed from what they should have been doing.

Felipe Baloy, Defender, Captain

[Link] I was on the bench and there was a reporter next to me who was telling us
how all the other matches were going. When he told us that Trinidad and
Tobago were beating the United States I started to get more nervous
because I was thinking, oh no, We’re getting all the results a we want but
we’re not doing what we need to do!”

[Link] And with that, Costa Rica scored and the stadium went silent, we were
completely shocked…

[Link] Early in the second half, Blas Perez’s scrambled equaliser drew Panama level.

[Link] With results elsewhere going their way another goal would secure their place
in the finals.

Felipe Baloy, Defender, Captain

[Link] Cooper launched the ball forward, Tejeda heads it on and Roman starts
running and the ball falls for him to be able to shoot.

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 Felipe Baloy, Defender, Captain

[Link] It was indescribable. I think every time we see the video that feeling comes
flooding back.

[Link] Panama’s President declared a National Holiday

[Link] And having booked their place in Russia, what can we expect from Panama
tactically at this summer’s tournament?

[Link] The man leading them to their first ever FIFA World Cup™, Hernan Dario
Gomez, has already been there twice before, with his native Colombia in
1998, and Ecuador four years later.

[Link] In charge since 2014, Gomez favoured a 4-4-2 formation in qualifying

featuring two combative central midfielders in Gabriel Gomez and Anibal
Godoy and a strike force that features top scorer Gabriel Torres deployed just
behind 36-year-old Blas Perez.

Blas Perez, Forward

[Link] I think the Manager has helped the younger players mature as quickly as
possible. There’s a good balance between young players and ‘more
experienced’ players, which has worked really well for the team.

[Link] He’s done a good job, along with his coaching staff and everyone else that
works alongside him.

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 Hernán Darío Gómez, Coach

[Link] Well, it’s a very organised, very tactical team. It’s a very supportive team.
That’s been really important in reaching the World Cup. And they try not to
stray from the style of play, and that style is what has allowed them to
achieve results.

[Link] The 13th CONCACAF team to reach the finals, Panama’s approach has been
characterised by this collective effort rather than reliance on one big star.

[Link] Coach Gomez is able to call upon an established core of players, including 5
with over 100 caps each.

Jaime Penedo - Goalkeeper

[Link] We’re like a family. We’re a team that have known each other for a long,
long time. I’ve been with some of the players I’ve been with in this team for
12 years. I think in the end, it’s something that’s helped us get to where we
are.

Blas Perez, Forward

[Link] I think that’s something else our coach has done, made sure we all get on
with each other. There’s no egotism. I think we all work as a team, as a
family and we’ve been able to live up to what the manager wanted from
the beginning.

[Link] From every pre-match meeting, all the matches we’ve played, we’ve got to
know each other well, our problems, through happiness and sadness. All of
this has made us stronger and has got us to where we are today.

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[Link] Despite that sense of familiarity on the field, you have to venture off it to
discover the X factor that could be Panama’s trump card at the finals.

[Link] The team can call on the backing of one of the most passionate groups of
fans in Central America. The Marea Roja – or Red Tide – will follow their
heroes to Russia in the belief that they can inspire the team to even greater
heights.

Felipe Baloy, Defender, Captain

[Link] Panama comes to a standstill whenever there’s a World Cup match. And I
think just the thought of Panama being in a World Cup is… it’s incredible.

[Link] So I think many Panamanians will make their dream a reality and go to
Russia. And I’m sure there’ll be a lot of people from Panama in Russia,
watching their team play, and that will really motivate us.

[Link] In Russia Panama will play in Group G, alongside Tunisia, England and
Belgium - three sides they have yet to meet in international competition.

[Link] They have a tough opening match in Sochi on June the 18th, against Roberto
Martinez’s highly rated Belgians. After surprising the world by qualifying,
they’ll need to keep on upsetting the odds.

Jaime Penedo, Goalkeeper

[Link] Our objective, which was something that seemed like a big thing for us, was
to reach the World Cup. But when you reach that stage, you realise that it’s

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 just the first step. Actually winning at the World Cup is the most difficult
thing ahead of us really, isn’t it? To prove why we deserve to be there.

Hernán Darío Gómez, Coach

[Link] It’s a team that has personality. It’s a team that gives me the impression
that they won’t buckle under the pressure of the World Cup. The
differences between teams that get to compete in the World Cup are huge,
and we are new to the competition. But in my mind, they are going to give
it their all, and they’re going to play as they always do, the day that they
get to compete in the World Cup.

[Link] Join us next time on the Official FIFA World Cup™ Preview Series as we
continue our look ahead to Russia 2018.

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