1.
FC Barcelona
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Futbol Club Barcelona, commonly known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Founded in 1899 by a group of Swiss, English and Catalan footballers led by Joan Gamper, unlike many other football clubs, the supporters own and operate Barcelona. It is the second most valuable team in the world, worth $3.56 billion. The official Barcelona anthem is the Cant del Barça, written by Jaume Picas, Barcelona was ranked first in the IFFHS Club World Ranking for 1997,2009,2011,2012 and 2015 and currently occupies the third position on the UEFA club rankings. The club has a rivalry with Real Madrid, matches between the two teams are referred to as El Clásico. Barcelona is one of the most supported teams in the world, Barcelonas players have won a record number of Ballon dOr awards, as well as a record number of FIFA World Player of the Year awards. Barcelona is one of three founding members of the Primera División that have never relegated from the top division, along with Athletic Bilbao. In 2011, the club became European champions again and won five trophies, by winning their fifth Champions League trophy on 6 June 2015, Barcelona became the first European club in history to achieve the continental treble twice. On 22 October 1899, Hans Gamper placed an advertisement in Los Deportes declaring his wish to form a football club, FC Barcelona had a successful start in regional and national cups, competing in the Campionat de Catalunya and the Copa del Rey. In 1902, the club won its first trophy, the Copa Macaya and he said in a meeting, Barcelona cannot die and must not die. If there is nobody who is going to try, then I will assume the responsibility of running the club now on. Club president on five occasions between 1908 and 1925, he spent 25 years in total at the helm. One of his achievements was ensuring Barça acquire its own stadium. On 14 March 1909, the moved into the Camp de la Indústria. To celebrate their new surroundings, the club conducted a logo contest the following year, Carles Comamala won the contest, and his suggestion became the crest that the club still wears – with some minor changes – as of the present day. The contest was the most prestigious in that era, from the inaugural year in 1910 to 1913, Barcelona won the competition four consecutive times. Carles Comamala played a part of the four-time champion, managing the side along with Amechazurra. The latter became the clubs first full-time coach in 1917, the last edition was held in 1914 in the city of Barcelona, which local rivals Espanyol won
2.
Budapest
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Budapest is the capital and most populous city of Hungary, one of the largest cities in the European Union and sometimes described as the primate city of Hungary. It has an area of 525 square kilometres and a population of about 1.8 million within the limits in 2016. Budapest became a single city occupying both banks of the Danube river with the unification of Buda and Óbuda on the west bank, the history of Budapest began with Aquincum, originally a Celtic settlement that became the Roman capital of Lower Pannonia. Hungarians arrived in the territory in the 9th century and their first settlement was pillaged by the Mongols in 1241–1242. The re-established town became one of the centres of Renaissance humanist culture by the 15th century, following the Battle of Mohács and nearly 150 years of Ottoman rule, the region entered a new age of prosperity, and Budapest became a global city after its unification in 1873. It also became the co-capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a power that dissolved in 1918. Budapest was the point of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848, the Hungarian Republic of Councils in 1919, the Battle of Budapest in 1945. Budapest is an Alpha- global city, with strengths in arts, commerce, design, education, entertainment, fashion, finance, healthcare, media, services, research, and tourism. Its business district hosts the Budapest Stock Exchange and the headquarters of the largest national and international banks and it is the highest ranked Central and Eastern European city on Innovation Cities Top 100 index. Budapest attracts 4.4 million international tourists per year, making it the 25th most popular city in the world, further famous landmarks include Andrássy Avenue, St. It has around 80 geothermal springs, the worlds largest thermal water system, second largest synagogue. Budapest is home to the headquarters of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, the European Police College, over 40 colleges and universities are located in Budapest, including the Eötvös Loránd University, Central European University and Budapest University of Technology and Economics. Budapest is the combination of the city names Buda and Pest, One of the first documented occurrences of the combined name Buda-Pest was in 1831 in the book Világ, written by Count István Széchenyi. The origins of the names Buda and Pest are obscure, according to chronicles from the Middle Ages, the name Buda comes from the name of its founder, Bleda, brother of the Hunnic ruler Attila. The theory that Buda was named after a person is also supported by modern scholars, an alternative explanation suggests that Buda derives from the Slavic word вода, voda, a translation of the Latin name Aquincum, which was the main Roman settlement in the region. There are also theories about the origin of the name Pest. One of the states that the word Pest comes from the Roman times. According to another theory, Pest originates from the Slavic word for cave, or oven, the first settlement on the territory of Budapest was built by Celts before 1 AD
3.
Barcelona
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Founded as a Roman city, in the Middle Ages Barcelona became the capital of the County of Barcelona. Barcelona has a cultural heritage and is today an important cultural centre. Particularly renowned are the works of Antoni Gaudí and Lluís Domènech i Montaner. The headquarters of the Union for the Mediterranean is located in Barcelona, the city is known for hosting the 1992 Summer Olympics as well as world-class conferences and expositions and also many international sport tournaments. It is a cultural and economic centre in southwestern Europe, 24th in the world. In 2008 it was the fourth most economically powerful city by GDP in the European Union, in 2012 Barcelona had a GDP of $170 billion, it is leading Spain in both employment rate and GDP per capita change. In 2009 the city was ranked Europes third and one of the worlds most successful as a city brand, since 2011 Barcelona has been a leading smart city in Europe. During the Middle Ages, the city was known as Barchinona, Barçalona, Barchelonaa. Internationally, Barcelonas name is abbreviated to Barça. However, this refers only to FC Barcelona, the football club. The common abbreviated form used by locals is Barna, another common abbreviation is BCN, which is also the IATA airport code of the Barcelona-El Prat Airport. The city is referred to as the Ciutat Comtal in Catalan. The origin of the earliest settlement at the site of present-day Barcelona is unclear, the ruins of an early settlement have been excavated in the El Raval neighbourhood, including different tombs and dwellings dating to earlier than 5000 BC. The founding of Barcelona is the subject of two different legends, the first attributes the founding of the city to the mythological Hercules. In about 15 BC, the Romans redrew the town as a castrum centred on the Mons Taber, under the Romans, it was a colony with the surname of Faventia, or, in full, Colonia Faventia Julia Augusta Pia Barcino or Colonia Julia Augusta Faventia Paterna Barcino. It enjoyed immunity from imperial burdens, the city minted its own coins, some from the era of Galba survive. Some remaining fragments of the Roman walls have incorporated into the cathedral. The cathedral, also known as the Basilica La Seu, is said to have founded in 343
4.
Forward (association football)
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Forwards are the players on an association football team who play nearest to the opposing teams goal, and are therefore most responsible for scoring goals. Their advanced position and limited defensive responsibilities mean forwards normally score more goals on behalf of their team than other players, modern team formations generally include one to three forwards, for example, the common 4–2–3–1 formation includes one forward. Unconventional formations may include more than three forwards, or none, the centre-forward is often a tall player, typically known as a target man, whose main function is to score the majority of goals on behalf of the team. Most modern centre-forwards operate in front of the strikers or central attacking midfielders. The present role of centre-forward is sometimes interchangeable with that of an attacking midfielder, a centre-forward usually must be strong, to win key headers and outmuscle defenders. The term centre-forward is taken from the football playing formation in which there were five forward players. The number would become synonymous with the centre-forward position. Strikers are known for their ability to peel off defenders and to run into space via the side of the defender and to receive the ball in a good goalscoring position. They are typically fast players with ball control and dribbling abilities. More agile strikers like Michael Owen have an advantage over taller defenders due to their short burst speed, a good striker should be able to shoot confidently with either foot, possess great power and accuracy, and have the ability to pass the ball under pressure in breakaway situations. Deep-lying forwards have a history in the game, but the terminology to describe their playing activity has varied over the years. Originally such players were termed inside forwards, creative or deep-lying centre-forwards, in fact, a coined term, the nine-and-a-half, has been an attempt to become a standard in defining the position. In Italy, this role is known as a rifinitore or seconda punta, whereas in Brazil, it is known as segundo atacante. An outside forward plays as the forward on the right or left wing – as an outside right or outside left. As football tactics have largely developed, and wingers have dropped back to become midfielders, many commentators and football analysts still refer to the wing positions as outside right and outside left. However, in the British game they are counted as part of the midfield. It is a duty to beat opposing full-backs, deliver cut-backs or crosses from wide positions and, to a lesser extent, to beat defenders. They are usually some of the quickest players in the team, in their Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese usage, the defensive duties of the winger have been usually confined to pressing the opposition fullbacks when they have the ball
5.
Vasas SC
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Vasas SC is one of Hungarys major sports clubs. Most of its facilities are situated in Budapests 13th district in the north of the town, members of the Hungarian Union of Iron Workers founded the club as Vas-és Fémmunkások Sport Clubja, the Sport Club of Iron and Metal Workers, on 16 March 1911. The club colours are red and blue, Vasas FC has won the Hungarian League six times. Vasas is known internationally for reaching the finals of the 1957–58 European Cup season. In their first season the club finished 6th, Vasas finished third in the 1924–25 Nemzeti Bajnokság I season. Only MTK Budapest and Ferencváros could overtake the club in the championship, in the following season the club could repeat their success. Vasas collected 29 points and won 11 out of 22 matches in the season, in the 1928–29 Nemzeti Bajnokság I season Vasas finished 11th and they were relegated. Vasas won only 5 out of the 22 matches and gained only 14 points, Vasas returned to the top flight of the Hungarian League in the 1930–31 Nemzeti Bajnokság I season and the club finished 8th securing their membership in the top league. However, in the next season Vasas were relegated again for the time in the clubs history. Vasas finished 11th and collected only 13 points by winning only 5 out of 22 matches, Vasas won their first Hungarian League title in 1957 and they entered the 1957–58 European Cup. On 4 September 1957 PFC CSKA Sofia beat Vasas 2-1 at the Vasil Levski National Stadium in the first leg of the preliminary round, on 3 October 1957 Vasas beat 6-1 PFC CSKA Sofia at Népstadion in the second leg of the preliminary round. On 20 November 1957 BSC Young Boys drew with Vasas at the Charmilles Stadium in the first leg of the first round, on 30 November 1957 Vasas beat BSC Young Boys at Népstadion. On 5 February 1958 Ajax Amsterdam drew with Vasas at the Olympisch Stadion in the first leg of the quarter finals, on 26 February 1958 Vasas beat 4-0 Ajax Amsterdam at Népstadion. The goals were scored by Szilágyi, Csordás, and Bundzsák, on 2 April 1958 Real Madrid C. F. beat 4-0 Vasas at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in the first leg of the semi-final. Although Vasas beat Real Madrid 2-0 at the Népstadion on 16 April 1958, Vasas have been the most successful Hungarian club in the European Cup and UEFA Champions League history along with Győri ETO FC. Vasas won the 1960–61 Nemzeti Bajnokság I season, as a consequence, Vasas were eligible to enter the 1961–62 European Cup. In the preliminary round, Vasas hosted Real Madrid C. F. and lost to 2-0 on 6 September in 1961 at Népstadion, in the second leg of the preiminary round on 20 September 1961 Vasas lost to 3-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid, Spain. The following year Vasas could repeat the success by winning the 1961–62 Nemzeti Bajnokság I season, Vasas competed in the 1962–63 European Cup
6.
Aurora Pro Patria 1919
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Aurora Pro Patria 1919 is an Italian association football club, based in Busto Arsizio, Lombardy. They currently plays in Lega Pro, in Latin, Pro Patria translates to For the Fatherland. The club was founded in 1919 and it played fourteen times in Serie A during the first half of the 20th century, the last time being in 1955–56. In 1995 the Pro Patria et Libertate is not enrolled in the Serie D and it played in the fourth tier until 2002, when the club won promotion to Serie C1 after playoffs. In 2008 the club was relegated to Serie C2 after losing in the playoffs to Hellas Verona by 2–1 on aggregate, on June 2008, a club takeover was completed, and ambitious plans for a return to Serie B were unveiled. The clubs president was arrested and has to stand trial on charges related to the bankruptcy. The drive to Serie B came to nothing for the team in the most bitter way, badly losing the return match of their playoff final against Padova. On 27 June 2009 Aurora Pro Patria 1919, owned by the Tesoro family, construction businessmen from Apulia, in the season 2009–10 it was relegated to Lega Pro Seconda Divisione. In the 2012–13 season it was promoted to Lega Pro Prima Divisione, in the 2014–15 season it was relegated to Serie D, but it was readmitted to Lega Pro for involvement in the sporting fraud. Boateng reacted angrily, kicking the ball into the stands, before the Milan players walked off the field, Pro Patria was forced to play one game behind closed doors because of this incident. As of 29 January 2016 Note, Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules, players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. Note, Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules, players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality
7.
RCD Espanyol
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Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona, commonly known as RCD Espanyol, or simply as Espanyol, is a professional sports club based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Founded in 1900, the plays in La Liga, the highest division of Spanish football. It has won the Copa del Rey four times, most recently in 2006, the team compete in the Derbi barceloní against FC Barcelona. Espanyol play at the 40, 500-capacity Estadi Cornellà-El Prat, having played at grounds including the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. Espanyol was founded on 28 October 1900 by Ángel Rodríguez Ruiz, the clubs original home was in the well-off district of Sarrià and was initially known as the Sociedad Española de Football. One year later, the changed its name to Club Español de Fútbol. Espanyol was the first club in Spain to be formed exclusively by Spanish fans of the game, the club originally played in bright yellow shirts, with the colour of the shorts being left to the individual player. A friend of the club owned a textile business and happened to have an abundance of yellow material left over from a job. In 1910, the changed its name to Club Deportivo Español and chose blue and white stripes as shirt colours. The club were successful from the beginning, winning the Campionat de Catalunya in 1903. In 1906, the club folded due to financial reasons and most of the joined the X Sporting Club. This club won the Campionat de Catalunya three times between 1906 and 1908, in 1909, this club was effectively relaunched as Club Deportivo Español, and in 1910, they adopted their present-day colours. Espanyol are one of several Spanish football clubs granted patronage by the Spanish crown and thus entitled to use Real in their names and this right was granted to Espanyol in 1912 by Alfonso XIII and the club subsequently became known as Real Club Deportivo Español. After the Spanish Civil War, the name reverted, the club took the Catalan spelling for its name in February 1995. The word Deportiu in Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona is a Catalanised form of the original word Deportivo and this choice was made in order to retain the initials RCD in the clubs name. In 1994, Espanyol created its reserve team, Espanyol B, with their win in the Copa del Rey the previous season, Espanyol entered the UEFA Cup. Following a 5–3 aggregate success against Slovak side Artmedia Bratislava, they were drawn in Group F alongside Ajax, Belgian minnows Zulte Waregem, Espanyol were group winners, victorious in all four of their ties. Their opponent in the Round of 32 was Livorno, who had just scraped into the knockout stages, Espanyol were 4–1 victors on aggregate, recording a 2–1 win in Tuscany and finishing the job 2–0 in Barcelona
8.
Toronto Falcons
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This article is about the soccer team from the 1960s, for the professional hockey team from the 1920s, see Toronto Ravinas. For the soccer team competed in the Canadian National Soccer League see Toronto Falcons. The Toronto Falcons were a team based in Toronto, Canada. They played only two years,1967 in the National Professional Soccer League and 1968 in the North American Soccer League and their home field was Varsity Stadium. During the 1967 season, while still in the NPSL, the Falcons drew an average of 3,792 people per game, torontos record for the 1967 season was a bearable 10-5-17. The following season, the NPSL merged with the United Soccer Association to form the NASL and their intercity rival, Toronto City, of USL folded in the process after only one year. In the NASL, with the legendary László Kubala as their coach, the Falcons played well collecting a 13-6-13 record and their average attendance for the 1968 season was 5,336 people per game. The NASL would return to Toronto in 1971 in the form of the Toronto Metros, during the 1967 season, the Falcons were able to sign Bill Brown a Scottish goalkeeper who drew 28 caps in his career. Tony Lecce was a defender and Canadian international, defender Guglielmo Burelli played over 150 games in the Serie A, including one season for Juventus F. C. Other players worth noting are Iris DeBrito and Yanko Daucik both prolific goal scorers, and John Lima from the first Spanish league, in 1968, Salvadoran international Raúl Magaña appeared for the club. Fernando Daucik Hector Marinaro, Sr. László Kubala Toronto Falcons on FunWhileItLasted. net
9.
Czechoslovakia national football team
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The national team was founded in 1901, existing under the previously mentioned names before the separation of Czechoslovakia in 1992. Their first international competition as the Czech Republic was the UEFA Euro 1996, where they finished runners-up, following the separation, however, they have only featured in one FIFA World Cup, the 2006 tournament, where they were eliminated in the first round of the competition. Bohemia also played a match against Yugoslavia, Ostmark and Germany in 1939 while being the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, when the Czech Republic was part of Czechoslovakia, the national team had runner-up finishes in World Cups and a European Championship win in 1976. The newly formed team played their first home game in Ostrava, against Lithuania, in which registered their first home win. Their first competitive match was part of the UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying campaign, in the final tournament, hosted by England, the Czechs progressed from the group stage, despite a 2–0 opening game defeat to Germany. They continued their form, and progressed to the UEFA Euro 1996 final. Given their success at Euro 1996, the Czechs were expected to qualify for the 1998 FIFA World Cup and they finished third in their qualifying group, however, behind Spain and Yugoslavia, and subsequently missed the tournament. The Czech Republic qualified for Euro 2000, winning all ten of their group games, in the finals the team were drawn in Group D, alongside 1998 FIFA World Cup winners France, co-hosts the Netherlands and UEFA Euro 1992 winners Denmark. This was considered to be the most difficult group to advance from in the tournament, the team were unlucky in the first match against the Netherlands as they hit the woodwork multiple times before losing 1–0 to a last-minute penalty. The Czechs lost their match against eventual champions France 2–1 which eliminated them from advancing to the knockout round. Czech Republic managed a 2–0 win against Denmark in their final game courtesy of two goals from Vladimír Šmicer, the team were unbeaten in 2002 and 2003, scoring 53 goals in 19 games and easily qualifying for Euro 2004 in the process. The Czech Republic went on a 20-game unbeaten streak, finally ended in Dublin on 31 March 2004 in a match against the Republic of Ireland. The Czechs entered the Euro finals in Group D, dubbed the tournaments Group of Death alongside the Netherlands, Germany, despite going behind in all three group games, the team won them all. This included trailing 2–0 to the Netherlands in a classic 3–2 win, the Czechs convincingly beat Denmark in the quarter-finals meaning a semi-final against Greece awaited them. It was not to be as the 90 minutes finished goalless, Greece would go on to win the tournament. The Czech Republic recorded their record win during the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification, in the same match, Jan Koller became the all-time top scorer for the national team with his 35th international goal. At the end of the campaign, after finishing in place in Group 1 then defeating Norway in a playoff. The team was boosted prior to the matches by the return of Pavel Nedvěd
10.
Hungary national football team
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The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation. Hungary has a football history, having won three Olympic titles, finishing runners-up in the 1938 and 1954 FIFA World Cups, and third in the 1964 UEFA European Football Championship. The national side first appeared at the Summer Olympic Games in 1912 in Stockholm, the team had to ask for donations in order to be able to go to the games. Hungary lost 7–0 to England and thus were eliminated, after the Olympic Games Hungary played two matches against Russia in Moscow. The first match was won 9–0 and the second 12–0, which is still a record for the national side, the top scorer of the two matches was Imre Schlosser who scored seven goals. The beginning of World War I had a impact on the thriving Hungarian football. Both the country and the clubs were suffering financial problems, during World War I Hungary played Austria 16 times. In 1919 England claimed the exclusion of the Central Powers from FIFA, when FIFA refused Englands plea, the British and Irish associations decided to resign from FIFA. Budapest was denied the opportunity to host the 1920 Summer Olympics, the countries of the Central Powers were excluded from the Olympics. During this period the Fogl brothers played in the national team, the formation the Hungarians used was 2–3–5 which was unique at that time. The national team played at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, in the first match Hungary beat Poland but in the second round they lost to Egypt. As a consequence, both the coach and the head of the Hungarian Football Federation resigned. Between 1927 and 1930, Hungary participated in the Europa Cup, which is considered to be the first international tournament, with Austria, Czechoslovakia, Switzerland, Russia, in the final, Hungary lost to Russia. On 12 June 1927, Hungary beat France by 13–1, which is still a record, the first FIFA World Cup was held in Uruguay in 1930, but Hungary were not invited and did not take part in the tournament, there were no qualification matches. Hungary first appeared in the 1934 World Cup in Italy, Hungarys first World Cup match was against Egypt on 27 May 1934, a 4–2 win. The goals were scored by Pál Teleki, Géza Toldi and Jenő Vincze, in the quarter-finals, Hungary faced neighbouring arch-rivals Austria but lost 2–1, the only Hungarian goal coming from György Sárosi. Hungary entered the 1936 Olympics, where in the first round they were eliminated by Poland, the 1938 World Cup was held in France. The first match was played against Dutch East Indies and Hungary won 6–0, Sárosi and Gyula Zsengellér each scored twice while Vilmos Kohut and Toldi scored one goal each
11.
Spain national football team
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The Spain national football team represents Spain in mens International association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Julen Lopetegui after Vicente del Bosque stepped down following Euro 2016, the Spanish side is commonly referred to as La Roja, La Furia Roja, La Furia Española or simply La Furia. Spain became a member of FIFA in 1904 even though the Spanish Football Federation was first established in 1909, Spains national team debuted in 1920. Since then, the Spanish national team has participated in a total of 14 of 20 FIFA World Cups and 9 of 14 UEFA European Championships. These three successive titles make them the national team so far with three consecutive wins of either the applicable continental championship or the World Cup. From 2008 to 2013, a span, the national team won FIFA Team of the Year. Between November 2006 and June 2009 Spain went undefeated for a record-equalling 35 consecutive matches before their loss to the United States. The teams achievements have led many commentators, experts and former players to consider the 2010 and 2012 Spanish sides among the best ever international sides in world football. The first Spain national football team was constituted in 1920, with the objective of finding a team that would represent Spain at the Summer Olympics held in Belgium in that same year. Spain made their debut at the tournament on 28 August 1920 against Denmark, the Spanish managed to win that match by a scoreline of 1–0, eventually finishing with the silver medal. Spain qualified for their first FIFA World Cup in 1934, defeating Brazil in their first game and losing in a replay to the hosts, the Spanish Civil War and World War II prevented Spain from playing any competitive matches between the 1934 World Cup and the 1950 editions qualifiers. At the 1950 finals in Brazil, they topped their group to progress to the final round, until 2010, this had been Spains highest finish in a FIFA World Cup finals, which had given them the name of the underachievers. Spain won its first major title when hosting the 1964 European Championship held in Spain. The victory would stand as Spains lone major title for 44 years, Spain was selected as host of the 1982 FIFA World Cup, reaching the second round, and four years later they reached the quarter-finals before a penalty shootout defeat to Belgium. Javier Clemente was appointed as Spains coach in 1992, leading them to the quarter-finals of the 1994 World Cup, had the official acknowledged the foul, Spain would have merited a penalty kick. In the 2002 World Cup, Spain won its three group matches, then defeated the Republic of Ireland on penalties in the second round. They faced co-hosts South Korea in the quarter-finals, losing in a shootout after having two goals called back for alleged infractions during regular and extra time, at UEFA Euro 2008, Spain won all their games in Group D. Italy were the opponents in the match, which Spain won 4–2 on penalties
12.
Catalonia national football team
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The Catalonia national football team is the official football team of the Spanish autonomous community of Catalonia. It is organised by the Catalan Football Federation, the team has been referred to by various names including Selecció Catalana, Selecció de Barcelona and the Catalan XI. Catalonia is not affiliated with either FIFA or UEFA and is not allowed to participate in either the FIFA World Cup or the European Championship. Catalan players are full Spanish citizens who are eligible to play for Spain, since 1904, the team has played nearly 200 games against various national, regional and club teams. International friendly games have been played regularly since 1997. Among the teams they have played are Nigeria, Brazil and Argentina, recent friendly games include a 4–2 win over Argentina at Camp Nou in December 2009, and a 4–0 win over Honduras in December 2010. Catalonia national football team made their debut in 1904, initially they played against various club teams such as Club Espanyol, Madrid CF, FC Barcelona and Irún Sporting Club. On 2 February 1912, they made their international debut against France. The team was, Reñé, Irízar, Amecharruza, Alemany, Peris, Armet, Forns, Rodríguez, Comamala, Morales, on 1 December 1912, the two teams met again in Barcelona and this time the Catalans won 1–0. In 1914, the Catalan XI played the Basque Country XI for the first time, the first recorded game between the two teams took place on 3 January 1915 at San Mamés Stadium, the Catalan XI lost 6–1. Between 1915 and 1926, the Catalan XI competed in an inter-regional competition and they finished as runners-up in 1915 and won the Copa Príncep dAstúries for the first time in 1916, beating a Castile XI 8–5 over two games. They then retained the trophy in 1917 after beating the Castile XI 2–0, during the 1920s, a team featuring Josep Samitier, Paulino Alcántara, Sagibarba and Ricardo Zamora helped the Catalan XI win the competition in 1922,1924 and 1926. The last competition in 1926 was a play-off between the two teams who had won the competition the most, the Catalans beat an Asturias XI 6–3 over two games. As well as playing other teams from throughout Spain and Europe. On 13 March 1924, at the Camp de Les Corts, the Spain XI included Josep Samitier and Ricardo Zamora, two of the best Catalan players of the era, while the Catalan XI featured Paulino Alcántara and Sagibarba. Samiter scored twice as the Spain XI won 7–0, on 13 December 1925, Samitier, Zamora, Alcántara and Sagibarba were on the same side as the Catalan XI beat Czechoslovakia at the Estadi de Sarrià. After conceding a penalty and going down 1–0, Sagibarba then equalised with another penalty before Samitier clinched a 2–1 win, on 7 July 1926, the Catalan XI played Czechoslovakia in Prague. Despite Samitier putting the Catalans 1–0 ahead, they eventually lost 2–1, during the 1930s, Catalonia continued playing friendly games against an array of teams,1934 was a particularly good year
13.
Al-Hilal FC
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Al-Hilal Saudi Football Club, also known simply as Al-Hilal, is a Saudi Arabian professional football team based in the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh. It plays at the Saudi Professional League and holds 57 official titles, founded in 1957, it has obtained a record of 43 domestic titles as well as a record 6 trophies in various Asian championships, and a record of 8 Arab championships. The clubs nicknames are Asias Club of the Century, Al-Zaeem, the IFFHS ranked Al-Hilal as the Asian Club of the 20th Century. Among the clubs most famous players were Yousuf Al-Thunayan and Sami Al-Jaber of the Saudi Arabian national football team, the clubs current manager is Ramon Diaz and is captained by Yasser Al-Qahtani. Al-Hilal Club was originally known as the Olympic Club during its founding by Abdul Rahman Bin Saad Bin Saeed on 15 October 1957 in Riyadh, the clubs name lasted for only one year before it was changed to its current name on 3 December 1958 by King Saud Bin Abdul-Aziz. He changed the name after he attended a tournament that was contested between the Olympic Club, Al-Shabab, Al-Riyadh and El-Kawkab clubs, as soon as the clubs establishment, Al-Hilal enjoyed not only grassroots support but also royal attention. After spending their formative years building a squad, the made their first mark by lifting the Kings Cup trophy in 1961. That began a period in which the club won 50 official competitions, Al-Hilal recaptured the Kings Cup in 1964, with a penalty shootout victory over two-time Asian champions Al-Ittihad. The club were the winners when the Saudi Premier League came into existence in the 1976–77 season. Al-Hilal won the title another 12 times and finished runners-up on 12 occasions in the space of 32 years, Al-Hilal also have seven Kings Cup, twelve Crown Prince Cup and eight Saudi Federation Cup titles. With the success, a number of players and coaches from outside Saudi Arabia joined the club in the 1970s, including Brazilians Mario Zagallo, in 1991, they won the first Asian title, Asian Club Championship. They won it again in 1999–2000, in 1997 they captured the Asian Cup Winners Cup and the Asian Super Cup of that year, which they lifted again in 2002. The last time they got their hands on a trophy was in 2002. Al Hilal is the only Asian team which achieves six Asian titles, Al Hilal reached the final of the AFC Champions League in 2014, where they faced Western Sydney Wanderers. The Australian club won 1–0 on aggregate, Al-Hilal plays their home games at King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh. The stadium was constructed in 1987 with a capacity of 67,000 people, the clubs reserve team stadium, Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium, was used in 2011–12 when King Fahd Stadium was under renovation. When prince Abdulrahman bin Musaad became the owner of the club in 2008, there was some idea of making Al-Hilal home avenue. Al-Hilal has a rivalry with Al-Ittihad
14.
Real Murcia
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Real Murcia Club de Fútbol, S. A. D. Known as Real Murcia, is a Spanish football club based in Murcia, founded in 1919, it currently plays in Segunda División B, playing home matches at Estadio Nueva Condomina, which holds 33,045 spectators. Home colors are mainly scarlet shirt and white shorts, officially founded in 1908, Real Murcia was named as such, in 1923–24, by king Alfonso XIII. The following year, the La Condomina stadium was opened, with the club holding home games there for the next 82 years uninterrupted. In 1929 the club first competed in the division, achieving its first ever La Liga promotion in 1939–40. After years of playing in the second level, it returned to the top division for 1980–81. During the 1990s Murcia also featured briefly in four. During the 2008–09 season, with Murcia placed in the zone, Clemente was also sacked. However, in the campaign, the club returned to division three. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality, the team was thus registered in the competition and presented, but it was disbanded shortly after for financial reasons. Three years later, Murcia Femenino in the division became Murcias new club. Real Murcia Imperial – Murcias reserve team Official website Futbolme team profile BDFutbol team profile MurciaMania, all about the club
15.
Elche CF
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Elche Club de Fútbol, S. A. D. is a Spanish football team based in Elche, Province of Alicante, in the Valencian Community. Founded in 1922, the club plays in the Segunda División, holding home matches at Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero. It was runner-up in the Copa del Rey in 1969 and they were relegated at the end of the 2014–15 season due to unpaid tax debts. Elche Club de Fútbol was founded in the summer of 1923, the clubs first-ever game was against Monóvar, where they beat the home team 4–0, and its first official match was a 2–0 win over Crevillente. In the late 1950s, Elche achieved two promotions from the third level to La Liga, securing its first promotion to the latter competition with a 3–0 success against Tenerife in 1959. Elche opened its first season in the top level with a 1–1 draw against Real Oviedo, the first goal being scored by Vicente Pahuet. The club finished out of 16 sides, nine points ahead of relegated Osasuna – the campaign included a 2–1 comeback home victory over Barcelona. The following season saw the team having to compete in the relegation/promotion play-off, Elche achieved their best-ever league finish in 1963–64, ranking in fifth position. The season also saw the clubs team, Elche Ilicitano. In 1969 the club reached their first and only Copa del Rey final, following victories over Pontevedra, Valencia, after twelve seasons Elche was relegated to division two in 1971, having finished second from bottom. Two years later the team returned to the category, as champions. After the relegation in 1978 Elche suffered, the whole of the top division campaign was spent in the relegation zone, and relegation consequently befell as 17th. After the relegation in 1989, Elche started to suffer heavily in the financial department, during the better part of the 1990s the club reached the second division promotion playoffs, only to consecutively fall short. In 1997 Elche finally managed to return to two, being immediately relegated back but gaining another promotion subsequently. On May 18,2013, following Barcelona B and Alcorcóns 1–1 draw, Elche was automatically promoted to the top level, during the 2013–14 season, the team managed to keep in the top competition, with an average attendance to home matches estimated at 25,104 people. As Elche Football Club As Elche Club de Fútbol 21 seasons in La Liga 37 seasons in Segunda División 7 seasons in Segunda División B19 seasons in Tercera División As of 1 February 2017, note, Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality, note, Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality, note, Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules
16.
Spain national under-23 football team
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Spains Olympic football team represents Spain in international football competitions in the Olympic Games. The selection is limited to players under the age of 23, the team is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation. Having qualified for four Olympic competitions since 1992, Spain has won one medal and one silver medal. Unlike later tournaments, the Summer Olympics used to be represented by senior or amateur teams, Spains first participation in the Olympics was in Antwerp, Belgium, in 1920. Fourteen teams entered the competition which was organized on a knockout basis, twelve teams entered the first round, with the six winners joining the host nation and France, in the quarter-finals. Czechoslovakia, participating in their first international tournament, cruised to the final, inflicting heavy defeats on Yugoslavia, Norway, Belgium beat a talented Spain and then the Netherlands on their way to the final. Belgium won the medal by default after Czechoslovakia walked off in protest during the final, unhappy with the performance of the English referee. The Bergvall System was used to determine second and third places, the beaten quarter-finalists played-off, Spain emerged triumphant overcoming Sweden 2–1 and Italy 2–0. Ordinarily, Spain would then have played the beaten finalists, Spain thus advanced straight to the silver medal match against Holland, beaten in the semi-finals by gold medallists Belgium. 1924 was not as successful, Spain bowed out of competition in round 1 after losing to Italy 1–0 At the 1928 Summer Olympics things would go from good to worse, Spain were, potentially, much to be feared. Defeated once since the last Olympic Games tournament their traditional tournament nerves would handicap them here, the unavoidable loss of their experienced captain Pedro Vallana after their first game, though, would cost them dearly. Spain started with a 7–1 win over Mexico, then a 1–1 draw against Italy which would cause the match to go on a reply, there Spain were eventually eliminating with a 1–7 defeat. Spain would not compete in another Olympic tournament until the 1968 edition held in Mexico, there the team fielded an under-21 amateur squad and reached the quarter-finals, losing only to the host nation. The teams final two tournament came in 1976 and 1980, where failed to make it out of the group stage. The football competition at the 1992 Summer Olympics was the first under-23 competition, Spain were awarded a place at the tournament due to being the host nation. Spain were able to qualify for the following Olympics, managed by then coach Javier Clemente, la Rojita failed to repeat its past success and were eliminated in the quarter-finals by eventual runners-up Argentina. Spain qualified for their third tournament in 2000. The squad, managed by head coach Iñaki Sáez, reached their final but were not able to take gold
17.
Paraguay national football team
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The Paraguay national football team is controlled by the Paraguayan Football Association and represents Paraguay in mens international football competitions. Paraguay is a member of CONMEBOL, the Albirroja has qualified for eight FIFA World Cup competitions and has reached the second round of the competition on four occasions. A regular participant at the Copa América, Paraguay have been crowned champions of the competition on two occasions, Paraguays highest FIFA World Rankings is 8th and lowest is 103, and was awarded second place with Best Move of the Year in 1996. Paulo da Silva holds the most amount of appearances for the team with 133. Denis Caniza, who was present with the team from 1996 to 2010, is the only player to have represented Paraguay in four consecutive FIFA World Cup competitions. Soon after the introduction of football in Paraguay by Williams Paats, the first national football team was organized in 1910 when an invitation by the Argentine club Hércules of Corrientes was received to play a friendly match. Members of that first national team where F. Melián, G. Almeida, A. Rodríguez, M. Barrios, P. Samaniego, J. Morín, Z. Gadea, D. Andreani, villamayor, M. Rojas and E. Erico. The match ended in a 0–0 draw, the first of those friendly matches was a 5–1 loss against Argentina, and it marked the first international game by the Paraguayan national football team. Paraguay eventually finished fourth in the tournament and became a participant of the tournament for the next editions. In 1930, Paraguay participated in the first World Cup, organized by Uruguay, in the first round, Paraguay debuted and lost to the United States, to then defeat Belgium with a goal by Luis Vargas Peña. Only one team was to advance from the stage. After strong participations in the Copa América tournaments of 1929,1947 and 1949, the return to the World Cup was in 1950, where Paraguay faced Sweden and Italy in Group 3. Paraguay failed to advance to the round after a 2–2 draw against Sweden. The first big success came in 1953 when Paraguay won the Copa América disputed in Peru, in their road to the championship, Paraguay defeated Chile, Bolivia and Brazil, and tied against Ecuador, Peru and Uruguay. Since Paraguay and Brazil were tied in points at the end of the tournament, key players of the campaign included Ángel Berni, Heriberto Herrera and Rubén Fernández. The coach was Manuel Fleitas Solich, in their first game in Sweden, Paraguay were 3–2 up against France in a game they lost 7–3. A 3–2 win over Scotland and a 3–3 draw with Yugoslavia saw Paraguay finish third in their group, the departure of several of their stars for European football resulted in a weakening of Paraguays football fortunes somewhat, but they were only edged out by Mexico in the 1962 qualifiers. Paraguay fell short in subsequent World Cup qualifying campaigns, but Copa América success in 1979 shored up Paraguay as a player on the continent
18.
Spanish language
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Spanish —also called Castilian —is a Romance language that originated in the Castile region of Spain, with hundreds of millions of native speakers around the world. It is usually considered the worlds second-most spoken native language after Mandarin Chinese and it is one of the few languages to use inverted question and exclamation marks. Spanish is a part of the Ibero-Romance group of languages, which evolved from several dialects of Vulgar Latin in Iberia after the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century. Beginning in the early 16th century, Spanish was taken to the colonies of the Spanish Empire, most notably to the Americas, as well as territories in Africa, Oceania, around 75% of modern Spanish is derived from Latin. Greek has also contributed substantially to Spanish vocabulary, especially through Latin, Spanish vocabulary has been in contact from an early date with Arabic, having developed during the Al-Andalus era in the Iberian Peninsula. With around 8% of its vocabulary being Arabic in origin, this language is the second most important influence after Latin and it has also been influenced by Basque as well as by neighboring Ibero-Romance languages. It also adopted words from languages such as Gothic language from the Visigoths in which many Spanish names and surnames have a Visigothic origin. Spanish is one of the six languages of the United Nations. It is the language in the world by the number of people who speak it as a mother tongue, after Mandarin Chinese. It is estimated more than 437 million people speak Spanish as a native language. Spanish is the official or national language in Spain, Equatorial Guinea, speakers in the Americas total some 418 million. In the European Union, Spanish is the tongue of 8% of the population. Spanish is the most popular second language learned in the United States, in 2011 it was estimated by the American Community Survey that of the 55 million Hispanic United States residents who are five years of age and over,38 million speak Spanish at home. The Spanish Constitution of 1978 uses the term castellano to define the language of the whole Spanish State in contrast to las demás lenguas españolas. Article III reads as follows, El castellano es la lengua española oficial del Estado, las demás lenguas españolas serán también oficiales en las respectivas Comunidades Autónomas. Castilian is the official Spanish language of the State, the other Spanish languages as well shall be official in their respective Autonomous Communities. The Spanish Royal Academy, on the hand, currently uses the term español in its publications. Two etymologies for español have been suggested, the Spanish Royal Academy Dictionary derives the term from the Provençal word espaignol, and that in turn from the Medieval Latin word Hispaniolus, from—or pertaining to—Hispania
19.
Dribbling
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In sports, dribbling is maneuvering of a ball by a single player while moving in a given direction, avoiding defenders attempts to intercept the ball. Such control may be exercised with the legs, hands, stick or swimming strokes, a successful dribble will bring the ball past defenders legally and create opportunities to score. In association football, a dribble is one of the most difficult skills to master. In typical game play, players attempt to propel the ball toward their opponents goal through individual control of the ball, dribbling is often invaluable especially in the third part of a pitch or at the wings, where most attacks take place. Dribbling creates space in tight situations where the dribbler is marked, however, dribbling, if poorly mastered and used, may result in the loss of possession either when the ball is intercepted or tackled by a defender. A skilful dribbler is often hard to dispossess, unsuccessful tackles may result in a free kick situation. Early references to dribbling come from accounts of football games in England. For example, Geoffrey Chaucer offered an allusion to such ball skills in fourteenth century England, in the Canterbury Tales he uses the following line, rolleth under foot as doth a ball. Similarly at the end of the 15th century comes a Latin account of a game which was played at Cawston, Nottinghamshire. It is included in a collection of the miracles of King Henry VI of England. Although the precise date is uncertain it certainly comes from between 1481 and 1500 and this is the first account of an exclusively kicking game and the first description of dribbling, he game at which they had met for common recreation is called by some the foot-ball game. In basketball, dribbling is the method of advancing the ball by oneself. It consists of bouncing the ball on the floor continuously with one hand while walking or running down the court, james Naismiths original rules said nothing about dribbling, merely stating that passing the ball was the legal way of advancing it. Players soon developed the strategy of passing to themselves, which Naismith himself both endorsed and admired for its ingenuity, and which evolved into the dribble as it is known today, the first known team to dribble was Yale University in 1897. The dribble allows for much faster advancement and thus opportunities for scoring. It also provides an opportunity for a crafty player on the team to steal the ball in mid-bounce. A double dribble may also be called if the player tries to dribble with both hands at the same time. Dribbling should be done with finger pads and the fingers should be relaxed and spread, The wrist should be pushing the basketball, skilled ball handlers bounce the ball low to the ground, reducing the risk of a defender reaching in to steal the ball
20.
Direct free kick
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A direct free kick is a method of restarting of association football following a foul. A goal may be scored directly against the side without the ball having first touched another player. This is opposed to a free kick where the ball must be passed before an attempt on goal. According to The Laws of the Game, if the ball out of play. A player who concedes a indirect free kick to the opposing side. A direct free kick is awarded when a player commits a foul outside of their own penalty area, however, if the offence was committed by the defending team within their own penalty area, the kick becomes a penalty kick. The kick is taken from where the foul occurred, unless it was within the teams own goal area. The ball must be prior to being kicked. Opponents must remain 10 yards from the ball until the ball is in play, observing the minimum distance limit, the opposite players may choose to form a wall between the ball and the goal. Vanishing foam has been used at the level since 2000 to keep the defending players at the right distance. To keep the initiative a quick free kick is taken without waiting for the opposing players to retire from the 9.15 m radius. A goal may be scored directly from a free kick. Should the ball land in the kicking teams own goal. A player may be penalised for an offence committed from a direct free kick. There are various techniques used with direct free kicks, first, the player taking the direct free kick may blast the ball as hard as he can, usually with the laces of the boot. Alternatively, some try to curl the ball around the keeper or the wall. Additionally, certain free kick specialists will choose to kick the ball with minimal spin, the kicker may also attempt to drive the shot under the wall formed by the opposition defenders. Kicks are retaken if an opponent is closer to the spot from where the kick is taken than the required distance, also, for a kick taken by a team inside their own penalty area, the ball is not considered in play until it has left the area
21.
Spain national under-21 football team
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The Spain national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Spain and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation. The team, nicknamed La Rojita, competes in the biennial UEFA European Under-21 Championship, following the realignment of UEFAs youth competitions in 1976, the Spanish under-21 team was formed. Spain has a record, having consecutively won the 2011 and 2013 Championships. Only Italy with five titles has won the more often than Spain. Since the under-21 competition rules insist that players must be 21 or under at the start of a two-year competition, for this reason, Spains brief record in the preceding U-23 competitions is also shown, though in actuality, Spain played only three competitive U-23 matches. The first was in the under-23 Challenge, which they lost, Spains youth development programs has been challenging the South American dominance in the FIFA U-17 World Championship and the FIFA U-20 World Cup. In fact,20 of the Spanish 23-man squad that won the Euro 2008 came through the ranks of the youth teams, *Denotes draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks. Gold background color indicates first-place finish, silver background color indicates second-place finish. Bronze background color indicates third-place finish, red border color indicates tournament was held on home soil. In addition to team victories, Spanish players have won awards at UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship. Note, Club represents the permanent clubs during the time in the Under-21s. Note, Club represents the permanent clubs during the time in the Under-21s. Caps and goals correct as of 27 March 2017 The following players were named in the squad for matches against Denmark and Italy. Caps and goals as of 27 March 2017, player those had been capped in senior level will be shown in italic. The following players have called up for the team in the last twelve months. com Europe – U-23/U-21 Tournaments at rsssf
22.
Slovaks in Hungary
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Slovaks in Hungary are the third largest minority in Hungary, after Romas and Germans. According to the Census in 2001, a number of 17,692 people claimed themselves to be Slovaks in Hungary. The total number of people who can speak the Slovak language is 56,107, according to the estimates of minority organisations, there are about 100, 000-110,000 people with Slovak ancestry in Hungary. Hence, the population of Slovaks in Hungary is ranging from 0. 18% to 1. 1% of the total population of Hungary. The presence of the Slovak ethnicity in the territory of present-day Hungary dates back to the Middle Ages, in the 9th-10th century, the Slovak-populated territories were part of the Great Moravia. Subsequently, in the 9th century these areas were included into the Principality of Hungary out of which the Kingdom of Hungary emerged in AD.1000, after Ottomans were defeated in the end of the 17th century, all Slovak-populated areas were included into the Habsburg Kingdom of Hungary. In this time, Slovaks mainly lived in the parts of the country. Following a period of Slovak demand for autonomy within Habsburg Kingdom of Hungary conflicts between Slovaks and Hungarians arose, according to the Treaty of Trianon from 1920, most of Slovak-speaking territories of the pre-war Kingdom of Hungary were recognized as part of Czechoslovakia. Some Slovaks, however, remained within the borders of post-Trianon Hungary, according to Austro-Hungarian data from 1900 there was 192,200 Slovaks in the territory of present-day Hungary. According to Hungarian census 141,882 people spoke Slovak in 1920, the Czechoslovak-Hungarian population exchange that took place after 1920 was repeated after World War II when about 73,000 Slovaks resettled from Hungary to Slovakia
23.
Czechoslovakia
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From 1939 to 1945, following its forced division and partial incorporation into Nazi Germany, the state did not de facto exist but its government-in-exile continued to operate. From 1948 to 1990, Czechoslovakia was part of the Soviet bloc with a command economy and its economic status was formalized in membership of Comecon from 1949, and its defense status in the Warsaw Pact of May 1955. A period of liberalization in 1968, known as the Prague Spring, was forcibly ended when the Soviet Union, assisted by several other Warsaw Pact countries. In 1993, Czechoslovakia split into the two states of the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Form of state 1918–1938, A democratic republic, 1938–1939, After annexation of Sudetenland by Nazi Germany in 1938, the region gradually turned into a state with loosened connections among the Czech, Slovak, and Ruthenian parts. A large strip of southern Slovakia and Carpatho-Ukraine was annexed by Hungary, 1939–1945, The region was split into the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia and the Slovak Republic. A government-in-exile continued to exist in London, supported by the United Kingdom, United States and its Allies, after the German invasion of Russia, Czechoslovakia adhered to the Declaration by United Nations and was a founding member of the United Nations. 1946–1948, The country was governed by a government with communist ministers, including the prime minister. Carpathian Ruthenia was ceded to the Soviet Union, 1948–1989, The country became a socialist state under Soviet domination with a centrally planned economy. In 1960, the country became a socialist republic, the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. It was a state of the Soviet Union. 1989–1990, The federal republic consisted of the Czech Socialist Republic, 1990–1992, Following the Velvet Revolution, the state was renamed the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic, consisting of the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic. Neighbours Austria 1918–1938, 1945–1992 Germany Hungary Poland Romania 1918–1938 Soviet Union 1945–1991 Ukraine 1991–1992 Topography The country was of irregular terrain. The western area was part of the north-central European uplands, the eastern region was composed of the northern reaches of the Carpathian Mountains and lands of the Danube River basin. Climate The weather is mild winters and mild summers, influenced by the Atlantic Ocean from the west, Baltic Sea from the north, and Mediterranean Sea from the south. The area was long a part of the Austro Hungarian Empire until the Empire collapsed at the end of World War I, the new state was founded by Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, who served as its first president from 14 November 1918 to 14 December 1935. He was succeeded by his ally, Edvard Beneš. The roots of Czech nationalism go back to the 19th century, nationalism became a mass movement in the last half of the 19th century
24.
Allied-occupied Austria
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The Allied occupation of Austria lasted from 1945 to 1955. In the immediate aftermath of the war, Austria, like Germany, was divided into four zones and jointly occupied by the United States, Soviet Union, United Kingdom. Vienna, like Berlin, was subdivided but the central district was administered jointly by the Allied Control Council. After Austrian promises of perpetual neutrality, Austria was accorded full independence on 12 May 1955, at the 1943 Moscow Conference, the allies had jointly decided that the German annexation of Austria in 1938 would be considered null and void. As well, all administrative and legal measures since 1938 would be ignored, on 29 March 1945 the Soviet commander Fyodor Tolbukhins troops crossed the former Austrian border at Klostermarienberg in Burgenland. On 3 April, at the beginning of the Vienna Offensive, Joseph Stalin had already established a would-be future Austrian cabinet from the countrys communists in exile, but Tolbukhins telegram changed Stalins mind in favor of Renner. On 20 April 1945, the Soviets, without asking their Western allies, seven days later Renners cabinet took office, declared the independence of Austria from Nazi Germany and called for the creation of a democratic state along the lines of the First Austrian Republic. Renner and his ministers were guarded and watched by NKVD bodyguards, one-third of State Chancellor Renners cabinet, including crucial seats of the Secretary of State of the Interior and the Secretary of State for Education, was staffed by Austrian Communists. The Western allies suspected the usual Soviet pattern of setting up puppet states, the British were particularly hostile, even Harry Truman, who believed that Renner was a trustworthy politician rather than a token front for the Kremlin, denied him recognition. But Renner had secured inter-party control by designating two Under-Secretaries of State in each of the ministries, appointed by the two parties not placing the Secretary of State. As soon as Hitlers armies were pushed back into Germany, the Red Army, by 23 May they reported arrests of 268 former Red Army men,1,208 Wehrmacht men and 1,655 civilians. In the following weeks the British surrendered over 40,000 Cossacks who had fled to Western Austria to the Soviet authorities, in July and August, the Soviets brought in four regiments of NKVD troops to mop up Vienna and seal the Czechoslovak border. The Red Army lost 17,000 lives in the Battle of Vienna, but the reputation of the Soviet soldiers was immediately ruined by the vast amount of sexual violence against women, which occurred in the first days and weeks after the Soviet victory. Repressions against civilians harmed Red Army reputation to such an extent that on 28 September 1945 Moscow issued an order forbidding violent interrogations. Red Army morale fell as soldiers prepared to be sent home, throughout 1945 and 1946, all levels of Soviet command tried, in vain, to contain desertion and plunder by rank and file. According to Austrian police records for 1946, men in Soviet uniform, usually drunk, at the same time, the Soviet governors resisted the expansion and arming of the Austrian police force. The American 11th Armored division crossed the Austrian border on April 26, French troops on 29 April, until the end of July 1945 none of the Western allies had first-hand intelligence from Eastern Austria. On 9 July 1945 the Allies agreed on the borders of their occupation zones, the French and American zones bordered those countries zones in Germany, and the Soviet zone bordered future Warsaw Pact states
25.
Torino F.C.
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Torino Football Club, commonly referred to as Torino or simply Toro, is a professional Italian football club based in Turin, Piedmont, that plays in Serie A. That entire team was killed in the 1949 Superga air disaster and they have also won the Coppa Italia five times, the last of which was in the 1992–93 season. Internationally, Torino won the Mitropa Cup in 1991 and were finalists in the UEFA Cup in 1991–92, Torino plays all of its home games at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino. The clubs colour is maroon, and its symbol is a rampant bull, in the city of Turin, the game of football arrived at the end of the 19th century, first introduced by the industrial Swiss and English. By 1887, Football & Cricket Club – the oldest Italian football club – had already founded in the capital of Piedmont. In 1891 the two merged to form Internazionale Torino, after which Football Club Torinese was founded in 1894. The new game quickly supplanted the popularity of pallapugno, which led to the foundation of the sections of the sports club Ginnastica Torino. Faelmdrich, A. Boulaz and Walter Streule, franz Schoenbrod, the president, was absent, with the cashier, Luigi Custer, randomly seated in his elected seat. While not intervening, Giacomo Zuffi, Gian Luigi Delleani, Vittorio Morelli di Popolo, Ademaro Biano, Ettore Ghiglione, Vittorio Berrà, through the merger of Football Club Torinese and the aforementioned group of dissidents Foot-Ball Club Torino was born. The new club chose to use different colours, opting in the end for granata, the historic photo of that first meeting portrays a boy destined to play an important role in the history of Italian football, Vittorio Pozzo. The first derby was played in the new year at the Velodrome Umberto I, dated 13 January 1907, Torino successfully replicated this by a margin of 4–1 a month later and gained the right to enter the final round of the Italian Football Championship, placed second behind Milan. Torinos home ground would be, until 1910, the aforementioned Velodrome Umberto I, Torino did not participate in the 1908 Italian Football Championship as a rule was passed which limited the use of foreign players. Torino lost in the final to Swiss side Servette, in 1915, Torino were denied their first real championship attempt by the outbreak of World War I. With one match left to play, Torino, were two points behind leaders Genoa, in the final game of the championship, Torino would have had the opportunity to play the Genoese head-on after defeating them in the first leg 6–1. At that time, albeit in different years, four different siblings played for Torino, the Mossos, after the War, the league resumed in October 1919. Like other teams, Torino lost many of its players during the war, the recovery was muted when Torino squad came 3rd in the Piedmont group, behind Pro Vercelli and Juventus. Even in 1920–21, there was not a league but a series of regional groups. The referee decided to play an extra time, but after eight minutes the teams mutually agreed to not continue
26.
S.L. Benfica
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Sport Lisboa e Benfica, commonly known as Benfica, is a Portuguese sports club based in Lisbon, Portugal. It is best known for the football team playing in the Primeira Liga. Benfica are the current Portuguese champions, having won three league titles. The team is nicknamed Águias for the symbol atop the clubs crest, since 2003, their home ground has been the Estádio da Luz, which replaced the original one. Benfica is the most supported Portuguese club, with a fan base of 14 million supporters worldwide. By August 2015, it had 156,916 paying members, the clubs official anthem, Ser Benfiquista, refers to its supporters who are called Benfiquistas. Benfica is honoured in three Portuguese Orders, those of Christ, of Merit and of Prince Henry. Benfica is the most successful Portuguese club in terms of domestic and overall titles –79 including the Latin Cup – and is the only one to have won all national competitions. They have won a record 35 Primeira Liga titles, a record 25 Taça de Portugal, internationally, Benfica won two consecutive European Cup titles, in 1961 and 1962, a unique feat in Portuguese football. In addition, they were runners-up at the Intercontinental Cup in 1961 and 62, at the European Cup in 1963,65,68,88 and 90 and they have reached ten European finals, which ranks seventh all-time among UEFA clubs and is a domestic record. Furthermore, they hold the European record for the most consecutive wins in domestic league, in the 1972–73 campaign, Benfica became the first undefeated Portuguese champions. In 2000, Benfica was ranked twelfth in the FIFA Club of the Century award, Benficas all-time top goalscorer is Eusébio, who won one Ballon dOr and two European Golden Boots while at the club. On 28 February 1904, a group of students from the Real Casa Pia de Lisboa. Their goal was to form a social and cultural football club, there were a total of 24 people who attended the meeting, including the 18-year-old co-founder and future soul of the club, Cosme Damião. In this meeting, José Rosa Rodrigues was appointed as president, along with Daniel Brito as secretary. It was defined that the colours would be red for bravery. The founders also decided that the crest would be composed of an eagle, the motto E pluribus unum, on 1 January 1905, Benfica played their first match ever, winning 1–0 against Campo de Ourique. Despite important victories in the first few years, the club suffered because of operating conditions
27.
Lisbon
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Lisbon is the capital and the largest city of Portugal, with a population of 552,700 within its administrative limits in an area of 100.05 km². Its urban area extends beyond the administrative limits with a population of around 2.7 million people. About 2.8 million people live in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area and it is continental Europes westernmost capital city and the only one along the Atlantic coast. Lisbon lies in the western Iberian Peninsula on the Atlantic Ocean, the westernmost areas of its metro area is the westernmost point of Continental Europe. Lisbon is recognised as a city because of its importance in finance, commerce, media, entertainment, arts, international trade, education. It is one of the economic centres on the continent, with a growing financial sector. Humberto Delgado Airport serves over 20 million passengers annually, as of 2015, and the motorway network, the city is the 7th-most-visited city in Southern Europe, after Istanbul, Rome, Barcelona, Madrid, Athens and Milan, with 1,740,000 tourists in 2009. The Lisbon region contributes with a higher GDP PPP per capita than any region in Portugal. Its GDP amounts to 96.3 billion USD and thus $32,434 per capita, the city occupies 32nd place of highest gross earnings in the world. Most of the headquarters of multinationals in the country are located in the Lisbon area and it is also the political centre of the country, as its seat of Government and residence of the Head of State. Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in the world, julius Caesar made it a municipium called Felicitas Julia, adding to the name Olissipo. Ruled by a series of Germanic tribes from the 5th century, in 1147, the Crusaders under Afonso Henriques reconquered the city and since then it has been a major political, economic and cultural centre of Portugal. Unlike most capital cities, Lisbons status as the capital of Portugal has never been granted or confirmed officially – by statute or in written form. Its position as the capital has formed through constitutional convention, making its position as de facto capital a part of the Constitution of Portugal. It has one of the warmest winters of any metropolis in Europe, the typical summer season lasts about four months, from June to September, although also in April temperatures sometimes reach around 25 °C. Although modern archaeological excavations show a Phoenician presence at this location since 1200 BC, another conjecture based on ancient hydronymy suggests that the name of the settlement derived from the pre-Roman appellation for the Tagus, Lisso or Lucio. Lisbons name was written Ulyssippo in Latin by the geographer Pomponius Mela and it was later referred to as Olisippo by Pliny the Elder and by the Greeks as Olissipo or Olissipona. The Indo-European Celts invaded in the 1st millennium BC, mixing with the Pre-Indo-European population and this indigenous settlement maintained commercial relations with the Phoenicians, which would account for the recent findings of Phoenician pottery and other material objects
28.
Superga air disaster
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The Avio Linee Italiane Fiat G. 212CP was carrying the team home from Lisbon, where they had played a friendly match with S. L. Benfica in honour of the Portuguese captain, Francisco Ferreira, in the incident, the whole Torino team lost their lives. Club officials and carriers also perished in the accident, as well as the crew, the task of identifying the bodies was entrusted to the former manager of the Italy national team, Vittorio Pozzo, who had called up most of Torinos players to the Azzurri. The full-back, Sauro Tomà, did not take part in the due to an injured meniscus, nor did the reserve goalkeeper. Radio commentator Nicolò Carosio, Luigi Giuliano, and former manager of the Italy national team, Torinos president, Ferruccio Novo, did not take part in the trip due to influenza. Torino were proclaimed winners of the 1948–49 Serie A season on 6 May 1949, on the day of the funeral, nearly a million people took to the streets of Turin to give a final farewell to the players. The shock was such that the year, the Italy national team travelled to the 1950 FIFA World Cup in Brazil by ship. The three-engined Fiat G.212, with aircraft registration I-ELCE, of Avio Linee Italiane, the commander of the aircraft was Lieutenant Colonel Meroni. The flight landed at the airport in Barcelona at 13,00, while the aircraft was refuelled during the stopover, Torino met for lunch with Milan, who were directed to Madrid. At 14,50, I-ELCE set off for the Turin-Aeritalia Airport, the flights route was to take it over Cap de Creus, Toulon, Nice, Albenga, and Savona. Above Savona, the plane veered north, in the direction of the capital of Piedmont, at this point, the tower asked for the pilots position. After a few minutes of silence came the reply, Quota 2,000 meters, QDM on Pino, then we will cut at Superga. At Pino Torinese, which is located between Chieri and Baldissero Torinese, southeast of Turin, there was a VDF radio station, to provide a QDM on request. On approach, the lined up with the runway Aeritalia about 9 miles away, at 305 m above sea level. Just north of Pino Torinese was the Basilica of Superga, situated on a hill at 669 m above sea level. Recent investigations also suggested the possibility that the altimeter had malfunctioned and locked at 2000 m, which led the pilots to believe that they were at a higher altitude. At 17,03, the made a turn to the left, put in horizontal flight, and aligned to prepare for landing. The pilot, who believed that the Superga hill was off to his right, would have seen it suddenly emerge directly in front of him
29.
Hungarian Football Federation
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The Hungarian Football Federation is the governing body of football in Hungary. It organizes the Hungarian league and the Hungarian national team, györgy Szepesi was president of the Hungarian Football Association from 1978 to 1986. *In 1949,1950 and 1963 the title was awarded to two players
30.
FIFA
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The Fédération Internationale de Football Association is the international governing body of association football, futsal, and beach soccer. FIFA is responsible for the organisation of major international tournaments, notably the World Cup which commenced in 1930. FIFA was founded in 1904 to oversee international competition among the associations of Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden. Headquartered in Zürich, its membership now comprises 211 national associations, although FIFA does not control the rules of football, it is responsible for both the organization of a number of tournaments and their promotion, which generate revenue from sponsorship. In 2013, FIFA had revenues of over 1.3 billion U. S. dollars, for a net profit of 72 million and those among these officials who were also indicted in the U. S. are expected to be extradited to face charges there as well. Many officials were suspended by FIFAs ethics committee including Sepp Blatter, in early 2017 reports became public about FIFA president Gianni Infantino attempting to prevent the re-elections of both chairmen of the ethics committee during the FIFA congress in May 2017. The need for a body to oversee association football became apparent at the beginning of the 20th century with the increasing popularity of international fixtures. The French name and acronym are used even outside French-speaking countries, the founding members were the national associations of Belgium, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Also, that day, the German Association declared its intention of affiliating through a telegram. The first president of FIFA was Robert Guérin, Guérin was replaced in 1906 by Daniel Burley Woolfall from England, by then a member of the association. Membership of FIFA expanded beyond Europe with the application of South Africa in 1909, Argentina in 1912, Canada and Chile in 1913, and the United States in 1914. During World War I, with players sent off to war and the possibility of travel for international fixtures severely limited. Post-war, following the death of Woolfall, the organisation was run by Dutchman Carl Hirschmann and it was saved from extinction, but at the cost of the withdrawal of the Home Nations, who cited an unwillingness to participate in international competitions with their recent World War enemies. The Home Nations later resumed their membership, the FIFA collection is held by the National Football Museum at Urbis in Manchester, England. The first World Cup in the world was in 1930 in Montevideo, FIFA is headquartered in Zürich, and is an association established under the Law of Switzerland. FIFAs supreme body is the FIFA Congress, a made up of representatives from each affiliated member association. Each national football association has one vote, regardless of its size or footballing strength, the Congress assembles in ordinary session once every year, and extraordinary sessions have been held once a year since 1998. The congress makes decisions relating to FIFAs governing statutes and their method of implementation and application, only the Congress can pass changes to FIFAs statutes
31.
Real Madrid C.F.
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Real Madrid Club de Fútbol, commonly known as Real Madrid, or simply as Real outside Spain frontiers, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. Founded in 1902 as Madrid Football Club, the team has worn a white home kit since inception. The word Real is Spanish for Royal and was bestowed to the club by King Alfonso XIII in 1920 together with the crown in the emblem. The team has played its matches in the 85, 454-capacity Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in downtown Madrid since 1947. Unlike most European sporting entities, Real Madrids members have owned and operated the club throughout its history. The club was estimated to be worth €3.24 billion in 2015, the club is one of the most widely supported teams in the world. Real Madrid is one of three founding members of the Primera División that have never relegated from the top division, along with Athletic Bilbao. The club holds many long-standing rivalries, most notably El Clásico with Barcelona, Real Madrid established itself as a major force in both Spanish and European football during the 1950s, winning five consecutive European Cups and reaching the final seven times. This success was replicated in the league, where the club won five times in the space of seven years. In domestic football, the club has won a record 32 La Liga titles,19 Copa del Rey, nine Supercopa de España, a Copa Eva Duarte, and a Copa de la Liga. Real Madrid was recognised as the FIFA Club of the 20th Century on 23 December 2000, the club received the FIFA Centennial Order of Merit in 2004. The club is ranked first in the latest IFFHS Club World Ranking, setting a new ranking-points record, the club also leads the current UEFA club rankings. They founded Football Club Sky in 1897, playing on Sunday mornings at Moncloa and it split into two clubs in 1900, New Foot-Ball de Madrid and Madrid Football Club. On 6 March 1902, after a new Board presided by Juan Padrós had been elected, three years after its foundation, in 1905, Madrid FC won its first title after defeating Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish Cup final. The club became one of the sides of the Royal Spanish Football Federation on 4 January 1909. After moving between grounds the team moved to the Campo de ODonnell in 1912, in 1920, the clubs name was changed to Real Madrid after King Alfonso XIII granted the title of Real to the club. In 1929, the first Spanish football league was founded, Real Madrid led the first league season until the last match, a loss to Athletic Bilbao, meant they finished runners-up to Barcelona. Real Madrid won its first League title in the 1931–32 season, Real won the League again the following year, becoming the first team to have won the championship twice
32.
Francisco Franco
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Francisco Franco Bahamonde was a Spanish general who ruled over Spain as a military dictator for 36 years from 1939 until his death. As a conservative and a monarchist, he opposed the abolition of the monarchy, with the 1936 elections, the conservative Spanish Confederation of Autonomous Right-wing Groups lost by a narrow margin and the leftist Popular Front came to power. Intending to overthrow the republic, Franco followed other generals in attempting a coup that precipitated the Spanish Civil War. With the death of the generals, Franco quickly became his factions only leader. Leaving half a million dead, the war was won by Franco in 1939. He established a dictatorship, which he defined as a totalitarian state. Franco proclaimed himself Head of State and Government under the title El Caudillo, under Franco, Spain became a one-party state, as the various conservative and royalist factions were merged into the fascist party and other political parties were outlawed. Although Francos Spain maintained a policy of neutrality during World War II. Francos regime has been called a fascist one, Spain was isolated by the international community for nearly a decade after World War II. By the 1950s, the nature of his regime changed from being openly totalitarian, by the 1960s Spain saw incremental reforms and progressive economic development. After a 36-year rule, Franco died in 1975 and he restored the monarchy before his death, which made King Juan Carlos I his successor, who led the Spanish transition to democracy. After a referendum, a new constitution was adopted, which transformed Spain into a democracy under a constitutional monarchy. Franco was born at half past noon on December 4,1892, at 108 Calle Frutos Saavedra in Ferrol and his father was of Andalusian ancestry. His mother was María del Pilar Bahamonde y Pardo de Andrade, Francisco was to follow his father into the Navy, but as a result of the Spanish–American War the country lost much of its navy as well as most of its colonies. Not needing any more officers, the Naval Academy admitted no new entrants from 1906 to 1913, to his fathers chagrin, Francisco decided to try the Spanish Army. In 1907, he entered the Infantry Academy in Toledo, graduating in 1910 as a lieutenant, two years later, he obtained a commission to Morocco. Spanish efforts to occupy their new African protectorate provoked the protracted Rif War with native Moroccans and their tactics resulted in heavy losses among Spanish military officers, and also provided an opportunity to earn promotion through merit. It was said that officers would receive either la caja o la faja, Franco quickly gained a reputation as a good officer
33.
Cold War
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The Cold War was a state of geopolitical tension after World War II between powers in the Eastern Bloc and powers in the Western Bloc. Historians do not fully agree on the dates, but a common timeframe is the period between 1947, the year the Truman Doctrine was announced, and 1991, the year the Soviet Union collapsed. The term cold is used there was no large-scale fighting directly between the two sides, although there were major regional wars, known as proxy wars, supported by the two sides. The Cold War split the temporary alliance against Nazi Germany, leaving the Soviet Union. The USSR was a Marxist–Leninist state ruled by its Communist Party and secret police, the Party controlled the press, the military, the economy and all organizations. In opposition stood the West, dominantly democratic and capitalist with a free press, a small neutral bloc arose with the Non-Aligned Movement, it sought good relations with both sides. The two superpowers never engaged directly in full-scale armed combat, but they were armed in preparation for a possible all-out nuclear world war. The first phase of the Cold War began in the first two years after the end of the Second World War in 1945, the Berlin Blockade was the first major crisis of the Cold War. With the victory of the communist side in the Chinese Civil War and the outbreak of the Korean War, the USSR and USA competed for influence in Latin America, and the decolonizing states of Africa and Asia. Meanwhile, the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 was stopped by the Soviets, the expansion and escalation sparked more crises, such as the Suez Crisis, the Berlin Crisis of 1961, and the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. The USSR crushed the 1968 Prague Spring liberalization program in Czechoslovakia, détente collapsed at the end of the decade with the beginning of the Soviet–Afghan War in 1979. The early 1980s were another period of elevated tension, with the Soviet downing of Korean Air Lines Flight 007, the United States increased diplomatic, military, and economic pressures on the Soviet Union, at a time when the communist state was already suffering from economic stagnation. In the mid-1980s, the new Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev introduced the reforms of perestroika and glasnost. Pressures for national independence grew stronger in Eastern Europe, especially Poland, Gorbachev meanwhile refused to use Soviet troops to bolster the faltering Warsaw Pact regimes as had occurred in the past. The result in 1989 was a wave of revolutions that peacefully overthrew all of the communist regimes of Central, the Communist Party of the Soviet Union itself lost control and was banned following an abortive coup attempt in August 1991. This in turn led to the dissolution of the USSR in December 1991. The United States remained as the only superpower. The Cold War and its events have left a significant legacy and it is often referred to in popular culture, especially in media featuring themes of espionage and the threat of nuclear warfare
34.
La Liga
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The Primera División, commonly known as La Liga and as La Liga Santander for sponsorship reasons, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system. A total of 60 teams have competed in La Liga since its inception, nine teams have been crowned champions, with Real Madrid winning the title a record 32 times and Barcelona 24 times. Real Madrid dominated the championship from the 1950s through the 1980s, from the 1990s onwards, Barcelona and Real Madrid both dominated, though La Liga also saw other champions, including Atlético Madrid, Valencia, and Deportivo de La Coruña. In more recent years, Atlético Madrid has joined a coalition of now three teams dominating La Liga alongside Real Madrid and Barcelona. Its clubs have won the most UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup titles, and its players have accumulated the highest number of Ballon dOr awards. La Liga is one of the most popular sports leagues in the world. The competition format follows the usual double round-robin format, during the course of a season, which lasts from August to May, each club plays every other club twice, once at home and once away, for a total of 38 matchdays. Teams receive three points for a win, one point for a draw, and no points for a loss, teams are ranked by total points, with the highest-ranked club at the end of the season crowned champion. A system of promotion and relegation exists between the Primera División and the Segunda División, the top teams in La Liga qualify for the UEFA Champions League. The first, second, and third placed teams enter the group stage. Teams placed fifth and sixth play in the UEFA Europa League, if both teams in the cup final finish in the top six, an additional berth in the Europa League is given to the team that finishes in seventh. In April 1927, José María Acha, a director at Arenas Club de Getxo, first proposed the idea of a national league in Spain. After much debate about the size of the league and who would take part, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Athletic Bilbao, Real Sociedad, Arenas Club de Getxo and Real Unión were all selected as previous winners of the Copa del Rey. Atlético Madrid, Espanyol and Europa qualified as Copa del Rey runners-up, only three of the founding clubs, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao, have never been relegated from the Primera División. They were also runners-up in 1932 and 1933, in 1935, Real Betis, then known as Betis Balompié, won their only title to date. Primera División was suspended during the Spanish Civil War, in 1937, the teams in the Republican area of Spain, with the notable exception of the two Madrid clubs, competed in the Mediterranean League and Barcelona emerged as champions. Seventy years later, on 28 September 2007, Barcelona requested the RFEF to recognise that title as a Liga title and this action was taken after RFEF was asked to recognise Levante FCs Copa de la España Libre win as equivalent to Copa del Rey trophy. Nevertheless, the body of Spanish football has not made an outright decision yet
