FIFA U-20 World Cup
In terms of current figures in the Polish national team, few carry the status of Jakub Blaszczykowski.
With 105 international appearances to his name, he stands clear as his nation's most-capped player, having risen through the ranks from U-19 level to appear at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™.
As such, the former Borussia Dortmund star is well placed to know the excitement of the young players heading to the FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019 as they set out to represent their nations on the world stage.
With less than 100 days to go until the big kick-off, he sat down with FIFA.com to reflect on his career with the national team, how he's making a difference in his native Krakow and what Poland has to offer fans and players visiting.
In terms of current figures in the Polish national team, few carry the status of Jakub Blaszczykowski.
With 105 international appearances to his name, he stands clear as his nation's most-capped player, having risen through the ranks from U-19 level to appear at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™.
As such, the former Borussia Dortmund star is well placed to know the excitement of the young players heading to the FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019 as they set out to represent their nations on the world stage.
With less than 100 days to go until the big kick-off, he sat down with FIFA.com to reflect on his career with the national team, how he's making a difference in his native Krakow and what Poland has to offer fans and players visiting.
Any young lad who takes up football dreams of playing for the senior team. Even when you just play out on the street, you dream of wearing your country’s jersey. Realising that dream was just priceless.
FIFA Women's World Cup
You wouldn’t expect a continental champion to come back from lifting the title with the admission that they were a bit rusty. But in Asisat Oshoala’s eyes, Nigeria have plenty more in their locker despite hoisting the CAF Africa Women Cup of Nations in December.
Having had to slog to their third successive title, overcoming penalty shootouts in both the semi-final and final, the three-time CAF African Women’s Player of the Year is anticipating a slicker, more efficient Super Falcons outfit come the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019.
While she’s getting into gear in the best possible way – joining Barcelona on loan from Chinese champions Dalian Quanjian – the national team is being put through its paces in the lead-up too, game time she feels they sorely need.
Having kicked off Canada 2015 with a bang against Sweden, now the race is on to hit their stride in time for Norway on 8 June.
You wouldn’t expect a continental champion to come back from lifting the title with the admission that they were a bit rusty. But in Asisat Oshoala’s eyes, Nigeria have plenty more in their locker despite hoisting the CAF Africa Women Cup of Nations in December.
Having had to slog to their third successive title, overcoming penalty shootouts in both the semi-final and final, the three-time CAF African Women’s Player of the Year is anticipating a slicker, more efficient Super Falcons outfit come the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019.
Having kicked off Canada 2015 with a bang against Sweden, now the race is on to hit their stride in time for Norway on 8 June.
No one that’s qualified for the World Cup is a pushover. They’re among the champions of their own continents. It’s champions against champions.
CANADA
It was a move that stunned a nation and shocked the football world. While many had speculated over John Herdman’s next job after Canada’s women, no-one predicted it would be with the Canucks’ men.
The surprise was not that Herdman had been targeted. Though he had no coaching experience in men’s football, the Englishman boasted a proven track record of impressive achievements with Canada and New Zealand.
Instead, the questions centred on his decision to agree to the switch. Canada’s women are, after all, well established as one of the world’s elite teams, and will be genuine contenders for this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The men’s side, on the other hand, languished 94th in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking when he took charge. They had not qualified for the FIFA World Cup™ since 1986 and, in recent decades, hadn’t even come close, having gone over 20 years without making the final stage of Concacaf qualifiers.
Speaking to FIFA.com, Herdman explains his decision, outlines the differences between coaching men and women, and assesses the potential of Alphonso Davies.
It was a move that stunned a nation and shocked the football world. While many had speculated over John Herdman’s next job after Canada’s women, no-one predicted it would be with the Canucks’ men.
The surprise was not that Herdman had been targeted; it was that he was willing to leave one of the world's elite female teams for a side that hadn't reached the final round of CONCACAF qualifiers in over 20 years.
Speaking to FIFA.com, Herdman explains that decision, outlines the differences between coaching men and women, and assesses the potential of Alphonso Davies.
It’s like being the head chef in a kitchen where you’ve designed that kitchen, grown the ingredients and developed the menu. I’m not just there to focus on the final product.
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Women's Ranking
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