When Chile then missed out on a place at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™, falling agonisingly short after looking poised to progress, Pizzi must have felt the tournament had passed him by.

However, a few months after leaving his Chile post, opportunity knocked. Appointed coach of Saudi Arabia, Pizzi oversaw their journey at Russia 2018 and earning some new admirers along the way. Now, the Argentinian-born tactician is preparing his team's assault on the 2019 AFC Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates, where he hopes to repeat his success with Chile and return Saudi Arabia to the continental summit after years of frustration.

Before putting the final touches on his plans for the tournament, Pizzi spoke to FIFA.com on his adventure with Saudi Arabia, his coaching philosophy, his role models and his spell in Chile.

Lukas Podolski has enjoyed a remarkable journey since shining as one of Germany's young stars at the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ on home soil, which culminated in a third place finish for Jurgen Klinsmann’s side and memorable celebrations with fans in the capital city.

Having featured for giants such as Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Inter Milan and Galatasaray at club level, the 33-year-old (130 appearances, 49 goals) is no stranger to success and capped a sparkling international career with a World Cup winner’s medal in Rio de Janeiro in 2014. Now enjoying a career in Japan, the Vissel Kobe player tells FIFA.com about life there and next year's FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland, the country of his birth.

"First of all, it is a great opportunity for Poland and the Polish FA to show to the world all the good things about Poland. This country has developed a lot."

Alex Morgan has long been one of women’s football’s biggest stars. But now, aged 29 and approaching her third FIFA Women’s Women’s World Cup™, she is dazzling brighter than ever. 

Morgan’s stats for this year make that case eloquently enough. From 19 international appearances in 2018, she has emerged with 18 goals and three assists. And whenever the stakes soared, so too did the performance levels of USA’s big-game player.

Just think back to October’s CONCACAF Women’s Championship, when World Cup spots and a continental title were on the line. Morgan was unstoppable, scoring seven goals in five games – three of which came in the semi-finals and final - to secure the competition’s Golden Boot and inspire a near-flawless campaign from her team. 

The striker’s scintillating form has been a key factor in the world champions emerging from a slump that followed their World Cup triumph in 2015. Now, with that transitional period behind them, USA are back to their imposing best, having ended 2018 unbeaten in 20 matches and without a goal conceded in almost 15 hours of football. 

It was, therefore, an understandably upbeat Morgan who sat down with FIFA.com to reflect candidly on her and the team’s development ahead of the Women’s World Cup.