FIFA WORLD CUP - FIFA: Federation Internationale de Football Association - every 4 years since the inauguration in 1930 (except
in 1942 and 1946 when it was not held because of the Second World War) - The World Cup Finals involves 32 teams competing for the title over a months period at the host nation - next three host nations: Brazil (2014), Russia (2018), Qatar (2022) - old trophy (1930-1970): Jules Rimet Trophy - new trophy (1974-present): FIFA World Cup Trophy - the six FIFA continental zones: Africa (CAF) Asia (AFC) North & Central America and the Caribbean (CONCACAF) South America (CONMEBOL) Oceania (OFC) Europe (UEFA) - the eight nations that have won the World Cup: Brazil, Italy, Germany, Argentina, Uruguay, France, England, Spain - most titles: Brazil with 5 - nation w/ most apps: Brazil with 19 (every tournament) - nation w/ most matches played: Germany w/ 99 - first champions (1930): Uruguay - current champions (2010): Spain PLAYERS RECORDS - first ever goal by Lucien Laurent of France - players with most tournament participations: Antonio Carbajal (Mexico) and Lothar Matthaeus (Germany) w/ 5 each - most appearances as captain: Diego Maradona (Argentina) w/ 16 apps - player with most championship wins: Pele (Brazil) w/ 3 - youngest goalscorer: Pele (Brazil) at 17 yrs 239 days - won tournaments as both captain and head coach: Franz Beckenbauer (Germany) - won tournaments as both player and head coach: Mario Zagallo (Brazil) - over-all top scorer: Ronaldo (Brazil) with 15 goals - only coach to win two World Cups: Vittorio Pozzo (Italy) - Golden Ball (2010): Diego Forlan (Uruguay) - Golden Boot (2010): Tomas Muller (Germany) - Golden Glove (2010): Iker Casillas (Spain) FIFA RANKINGS - top ranking nations in each continental zone: UEFA - Spain #1 CONMEBOL - Uruguay #4 CAF - Cote dIvoire #15 CONCACAF - Mexico #21 OFC - Australia #22 AFC - Japan #30 - Philippines ranking: 156
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - founded in 1955 by the Union of European Football Assoc. (UEFA) - the most prestigious European club football contest - originally known as the European Champion Clubs Cup or European Cup CLUB RECORDS - first champions (1956): Real Madrid - most championships: Real Madrid with 9 titles - nation w/ most winners: Spain with 13 (9 from Real Madrid, 4 from Barcelona) - nation w/ most participating clubs: Spain with 12 - the nine unbeaten clubs (*four unbeaten twice*): Internazionale, Ajax*, Nottingham Forest, Liverpool*, AC Milan*, Red Star Belgrade, Marseille, Man. United*, Barcelona - the six treble clubs: Celtic, Ajax, PSV Eindhoven, Man. United, Barcelona, Internazionale - most consecutive clean sheets: Arsenal w/ 10 clean sheets during the 2005-06 season - current champions (2011): Barcelona PAST WINNERS (of the past decade) 2011 Barcelona 2010 Internazionale 2009 Barcelona 2008 Man. United 2007 Milan 2006 Barcelona 2005 Liverpool 2004 Porto 2003 Milan 2002 Real Madrid 2001 Bayern 2000 Real Madrid PLAYERS RECORDS - most apps: Raul Gonzalez w/ 144 games - all-time top scorer: Raul Gonzalez w/ 71 goals - most top-scorer awards: Gerd Muller w/ 4 - only player to score four goals in a final: Ferenc Puskas in 1960 - 2009-11 top scorer: Lionel Messi - current top scorer (as of 2/9/12): Mario Gomez and Lionel Messi w/ 6 goals CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2012 - Round of 16 (1st Leg: Mar 27-28 2012) | (2nd Leg: Apr 3-4 2012) APOEL (Cyprus) vs. Real Madrid (Spain) Marseille (France) vs. Bayern (Germany) Benfica (Portugal) vs. Chelsea (England) Milan (Italy) vs. Barcelona (Spain)
UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE - founded in 1971; previously called the UEFA Cup - second most prestigious European club football contest CLUB RECORDS - first champions (1972): Tottenham Hotspur - most titles: Juventus, Internazionale, & Liverpool w/ 3 each - most consecutive titles: Real Madrid & Sevilla w/ 2 each - most consecutive participation: Club Brugge (Belgium) w/ 14 - nation w/ most winners: Italy with 9 (3 Juventus, 3 InterMilan, 2 Parma, 1 Napoli) - nations w/ most participating clubs: Germany and Italy have 8 each - the six unbeaten clubs: Tottenham, Borussia Monchengladbach, IFK Goteburg, Ajax, Galatasaray, Feyenoord - the four treble clubs: Porto, IFK Goteborg, Galatasaray, CSKA Moscow - current champions (2011): Porto PAST WINNERS (of the past decade) 2011 Porto 2010 Atletico 2009 Shakhtar Donetsk 2008 Zenit 2007 Sevilla 2006 Sevilla 2005 CSKA Moskva 2004 Valencia 2003 Porto 2002 Feyenoord 2001 Liverpool 2000 Galatasaray PLAYERS RECORDS - most apps: Giuseppe Bergomi w/ 96 games - all-time top scorer: Henrik Larsson w/ 40 goals - 2011 top scorer: Falcao (club: Porto) w/ 17 goals - current top scorer (as of 2/9/12): Matias Suarez (club: Anderlecht) w/ 7 goals EUROPA LEAGUE 2012 - Round of 16 (1st Leg: Mar 29 2012) | (2nd Leg: Apr 5 2012) AZ (Netherlands) vs. Valencia (Spain) Atletico Madrid (Spain) vs. Hannover (Germany) Sporting (Portugal) vs. Metalist (Ukraine) Schalke (Germany) vs. Athletic Bilbao (Spain) * teams dropped from UCL group stage
UEFA EUROPEAN FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP (EURO) - the main football competition of the mens national football teams governed by UEFA - held every 4 years since 1960 in the even-numbered year between World Cup tournaments - it was originally called the UEFA European Nations Cup - trophy is called The Henri Delaunay Cup, named in honor after the first UEFA General secretary who proposed the idea for a European Cup back in 1927 - first championship match (USSR vs. Hungary) was held on September 28, 1958 in Moscows Central Stadium - first goal by Anatoli Ilyin (USSR) after 4 mins. CLUB RECORDS - most championships: Germany with 3 titles - current champions (2008): Spain PAST WINNERS 2008 Spain 2004 Greece 2000 France 1996 Germany 1992 Denmark 1988 Netherlands 1984 France 1980 West Germany 1976 Czechoslovakia 1972 West Germany 1968 Italy 1964 Spain 1960 Soviet Union PLAYERS RECORD - overall top scorer: Michel Platini (France) with 9 goals in 1984 - current top scorer (2008): David Villa (Spain) with 4 goals EURO 2012 (POLAND/UKRAINE) GROUP STAGE - Group A (Matchday 1: Jun 8 2012) Poland Greece Russia Czech Republic - Group B (Matchday 1: Jun 9 2012) Netherlands Denmark Germany Portugal - Group C (Matchday 1: Jun 10 2012) Spain Italy Republic of Ireland Croatia - Group D (Matchday 1: Jun 11 2012) Ukraine Sweden France England
