EURO-2012 Developments: New Terminal of Kyiv International Airport Opens on October 31
On October 31 2010, the newly built terminal F of Ukraine’s main Kyiv-Boryspil international airport will see its first flight. Designated as the official terminal for Ukraine International Airlines, the new terminal will provide world class service for the Ukrainian and international travelers.
The opening of the new terminal in Kyiv will be the third occasion in a series of Ukraine’s air gateways modernization within the framework of the country’s preparations for EURO-2012. Earlier this year Kharkiv and Donetsk airports were opened after substantive renovation.
The new terminal’s total area is 20685.6 square meters. The airport’s average capacity provides for 900 passengers per hour in arrivals and same quantity in departures. The maximum capacity during rush hours can be up to 1500 passengers in departures.
Terminal F is not the end of Ukraine’s main gateway modernization. The construction of another new terminal D started in 2008. The management of the airport expects the building to be finished by September 2011. In 2012, all operating terminals of Kyiv-Boryspil airport will be able to process more than 6 thousand passengers per hour, whereas the UEFA requirements for EURO 2012 are not less than 4500 passengers.
The opening of the new airports in the country is one of the clearest signs of the positive impact that EURO 2012 is making on Ukraine. Many experts agree that had it not been for the Championship, it would have taken Ukraine much more time to modernize its airports as well as to develop other important infrastructure.
Kyiv-Boryspil International Airport is located at the crossroads of many air routes from Europe to Asia and America. Currently the airport is serving the flights of more than 50 foreign airlines with more than 100 flight itineraries. To date the airport is Ukraine’s only gateway serving trans-continental flights.
Suspension of the Nigeria Football Federation
The FIFA Emergency Committee decided, 4 October 2010, to suspend the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) with immediate effect on account of government interference.
This decision follows the latest events linked to the NFF, such as the court actions against elected members of the NFF Executive Committee preventing them from exercising their functions and duties, the stepping down of the acting NFF General Secretary on the instructions of the National Sports Commission, the decision of the Minister of Sports to have the Nigerian League start without relegation from the previous season, and the fact that the NFF Executive Committee cannot work properly due to this interference.
The suspension will be maintained until the court actions have ceased and the duly elected NFF Executive Committee is able to work without any interference.
During the period of suspension, the NFF will not be able to be represented in any regional, continental or international competitions, including at club level, and also not in friendly matches. In addition, neither the NFF nor any of its members or officials can benefit from any development programme, course, or training from FIFA or CAF while the federation remains suspended.
FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking: Europe and Africa on the march
The results of the 159 “A” international matches played over the last five weeks have caused some significant movement in the latest edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking.
World champions Spain are still on top, although defeat in Buenos Aires has seen them lose a quarter of their lead. Germany (3rd) and Brazil (4th) have traded places, as have England (6th) and Uruguay (7th), with the two European teams benefiting from their successful start to EURO 2012 qualifying. Norway (14th, up 
and Slovakia (16th, up 11) have both climbed into the top 20 for the same reason.
Russia (25th, down 9) and France (27th, down 6) have lost considerable ground, in contrast to Turkey (21st, up 7), who are on the rise again.
The most impressive climbers, however, are Montenegro (40th, up 33) as their two victories in EURO 2012 qualifiers have catapulted them into the top 50 for the first time. This represents an incredible rise for the newest member of the FIFA family, who started off at the foot of the ranking with no points to their name just three years ago.
Other teams that can celebrate jumps of at least ten positions and a place in the top 50 are Lithuania (42nd, up 10), Cyprus (43rd, up 20) and Northern Ireland (45th, up 14). There are also some major movers further down the ranking, including Belarus (55th, up 23), Panama (70th, up 27), the Cape Verde Islands (77th, up 31), Guinea (81st, up 21), Georgia (89th, up 21), Burundi (122nd, up 20) and particularly Guinea-Bissau (140th), who have climbed 48 places after returning from almost three years of inactivity with a victory. In all, seven associations are currently in their highest-ever position in the world ranking since its introduction in 1993: Slovakia, Montenegro, Cyprus and Belarus, as well as Burkina Faso (39th), Uganda (63rd) and Botswana (82nd). Read more
USA vs Brazil friendly preview
Six week ago USA reached to the knockout stage at 2010 World Cup in South Africa where lost to Ghana after an epic game.
International soccer provides constant chances to forget the past, to prepare for the future. Tonight, the super champions, Brazil will arrive to America. More than 65,000 tickets had been sold, according to U.S. Soccer officials. New Meadowlands Stadium capacity is 75,000 seat for the game.
Coach Bob Bradley‘s future with U.S. National Team is unknown. He has linked to English Premier League club Aston Villa as a manager after Martin O`Neill resignation.
The U.S.A. begins a new four-year cycle to another World Cup. Bradley will send most of its best player against the 2014 host Brazilians. Brazil defeated the Americans, with 3-2, in their last match in the 2009 Confederations Cup semifinals in Johannesburg.
The new Brazilian coach Mano Menezes is bringing just four players who played at the 2010 World Cup: Robinho, Ramires, Thiago Silva and Daniel Alves.
Who: United States vs. Brazil
What: International Friendly
When: Tuesday, August 10, 2010; 8 p.m. ET
Where: New Meadowlands Stadium; East Rutherford, NJ
TV: ESPN2 and Univision
Projected USA Line Up: Howard – Cherundolo – Bocanegra – Goodson – Bornstein – Donovan – Bradley – Edu – Bedoya – Altidore – Findley
Projected Brazil Line Up: Victor – Santos – Henrique – da Silva – Alves – Lucas – Ramires – Carlos Eduardo – Robinho – Pato – Neymar
Shakhtar Donetsk – Fulham FC UEFA Europa League 2009-2010 match preview
Donbass Arena, Donetsk
Thursday 25 February 2010 – 19.00CET (20.00 local time)
Round of 32, second leg
A thunderous strike from Bobby Zamora handed Fulham FC a 2-1 first-leg lead against FC Shakhtar Donetsk, but the 2008/09 UEFA Cup winners have the odds in their favour as the focus shifts to Ukraine.
• Zoltan Gera’s third-minute opener caught Shakhtar cold in London, but they were on top by the time Luiz Adriano responded (32) only for Zamora’s tremendous first-time effort (63) to give Fulham victory.
Previous meetings
• Shakhtar have now played five games against English opponents, and have the record W2 D1 L2. They have hosted Arsenal FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC in previous European fixtures, winning both games without conceding a goal.
• The first leg was Fulham’s first meeting with Ukrainian opposition, while this will be their first competitive game in Ukraine.
Match background
• This will be Fulham’s 26th game since their European debut in the 2002 UEFA Intertoto Cup, and the second leg of their first post-Christmas UEFA club competition fixture.
• Fulham’s record in 12 European away games is a healthy W5 D4 L3. They have never conceded more than two goals in a European fixture.
• Winners of the final edition of the UEFA Cup in May 2009, Shakhtar featured among the last 32 in four of the last five UEFA Cup campaigns, winning three ties (against FC Schalke 04 in 2004/05, AS Nancy-Lorraine in 2007/08 and Tottenham in 2008/09) and losing to LOSC Lille Métropole in 2005/06.
• Shakhtar are unbeaten in ten European home games since a 1-0 loss to Sporting Clube de Portugal in the 2008/09 UEFA Champions League group stage, recording eight wins and two draws.
Team facts
• The first leg was the first time that experienced Fulham manager Roy Hodgson had come up against Ukrainian opposition.
• Shakhtar coach Mircea Lucescu has now been involved in 12 games against English teams – one as a player, two as an international coach and nine more leading club sides. His record in those matches reads W2 D7 L3 (W2 D4 L0 as home coach).
• Both Hodgson and Lucescu are former FC Internazionale Milano coaches. Hodgson was in charge of the Nerazzurri from 1995 to 1997, Lucescu from 1998 to 1999. Hodgson’s Inter side lost the 1996/97 UEFA Cup final on penalties to Schalke.
• Fulham defender Chris Smalling has agreed to join Manchester United FC in the summer.
• The winners in this tie will face the victors of the tie between AFC Ajax and Juventus in the round of 16 on 11 and 18 March, playing the second leg at home.
Penalties
• Shakhtar lost 4-1 in their only previous European penalty shoot-out at Club Brugge KV following a 2-2 aggregate draw in a 2002/03 UEFA Champions League third qualifying round tie.
• Fulham have never been involved in a European penalty shoot-out.
Fulham
Suspended: none
Misses next match if booked: Jonathan Greening
Players added to squad: Pascal Zuberbühler, Kagisho Dikgacoi, David Elm
Players removed from squad: Diomansy Kamara, David Stockdale, Andrew Johnson, Joe Anderson, Marcus Bettinelli, Neil Etheridge, Adam Watts
Shakhtar
Suspended: none
Misses next match if booked: Luiz Adriano, Răzvan Raţ, Darijo Srna
Players added to squad: Douglas, Ruslan Fomin, Artem Tetenko
Players removed from squad: Julius Aghahowa, Oleksiy Polyanskiy