Ahead of the North Korea vs Sweden UFWC title match, we’re taking one of our regular looks at the main UFWC “spin-offs” – the unofficial continental titles, the wooden spoons, and the women’s titles – as tracked over at the UFWC forum.

Europe

Disappointingly, the unofficial European title didn’t find its way to Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine last summer. It was non-qualifiers Romania who held the title until August before losing a friendly in Slovenia. The Slovenians duly lost their opening World Cup qualifier to Switzerland, who have seen off challenges from Albania, Norway and Iceland to bring the title into 2013.

The woeful San Marino were European wooden spooners throughout 2012. Even a home match against Malta couldn’t save them (they lost 3-2). At home to Moldova, hardly world-beaters themselves, they managed just two shots to Moldova’s 11, with the visitors winning the corner count 7-0. Several more years as European wooden spooners look likely.

South America

Just one change of hands for the unofficial South American title in 2012. It came in September, when champions Uruguay were humbled 4-0 by a resurgent Colombia, who will hope their good form can continue through 2013, and earn them a first World Cup appearance since 1998.

2012 began with Bolivia as South American wooden spooners. They then beat Paraguay, the 2010 World Cup quarter-finalists and 2011 Copa America finalists, who had a terrible year. At least the Paraguayans managed to end the year free of the spoon, as they recorded a narrow 1-0 home win over current holders Peru.

Africa

There was huge controversy in the unofficial African championships in 2012, and it has yet to be settled conclusively. Things started well enough, with the Ivory Coast heading to the Cup of Nations as champions, then sailing through to the final, only to be upset by Zambia (on penalties). In June, Zambia lost a World Cup qualifier to Sudan. The title then passed to Libya, before ending the year with Algeria. Or did it? In October, FIFA announced that Sudan had fielded a player who was suspended, and overturned the result, awarding Zambia a default 3-0 win. However, FIFA’s results archive, which provides all results for the UFWC continental competitions, still records the match as a 2-0 win to Sudan. Attempts to contact FIFA on the matter have been unsuccessful! If we do indeed give the match to Zambia, the title then goes to Malawi, then Liberia, then Niger, then Ethiopia. As both potential holders are heading to the African Cup of Nations in January 2013, hopefully the two paths will merge soon.

Meanwhile, African wooden spooners Comoros did not even attempt to rid themselves of the burden during 2012. They didn’t play a match all year, and currently have no forthcoming fixtures arranged.

Asia

The 12 matches played by reigning UFWC champions North Korea during 2012 were all against Asian opposition, and so they still retain the unofficial Asian title as well as the world title.

Cambodia entered 2012 as wooden spooners, of both Asia and indeed the whole world. They played four matches, all in qualification for the AFF Suzuki Cup (a tournament for South-East Asian nations). Cambodia lost all four matches – to Timor-Leste, Laos, Brunei and hosts Myanmar. Every other nation won at least twice.

CONCACAF

Regional powerhouses Mexico held the title until August 2012, when the United States visited the Azteca. It was the Americans’ 22nd away match against Mexico, and they had lost every single one of the previous 21. Not this time, though. Mike Orozco scored the only goal of an extraordinary match. The USA promptly lost in Jamaica, but luckily for them, the return match occurred just four days later, and they were able to reclaim the title in double-quick time.

Anguilla played three times in 2012, but lost every time, and still hold the CONCACAF wooden spoon. The low point was a 10-0 defeat to Trinidad & Tobago.

Oceania

New Zealand, far and away the strongest team in the Oceania region, hadn’t had a look-in for the continental championship for some time. Surely they would win the 2012 OFC Cup, though? Amazingly, they lost to New Caledonia in the semi-final. It was Tahiti who went on to become official Oceanian champions, having already become unofficial champions earlier in the tournament with a win over New Caledonia. However, the advent of World Cup qualifying in September restored some order. Tahiti lost to the Solomon Islands, and four days later, New Zealand saw off the islanders to finally reclaim the title. They have since beaten Tahiti home and away.

No action for the Cook Islands this year; they retain the wooden spoon.

Women’s

Japan, who became official and unofficial women’s world champions in 2011, began 2012 with three wins in a row, but then lost 4-3 in Faro to Germany. The Germans have been fairly imperious since, and have already defended their title eight times. They missed out on competing in the London Olympics, though, due to their shock early exit in the 2011 World Cup, which they had themselves hosted.

Luxembourg began the year as women’s world wooden spooners. They only played twice in 2012, but, even though their opposition came in the less-than-intimidating shape of Malta and the Faroe Islands, and despite home advantage both times, they still lost twice.

You can get regular updates and discuss the UFWC spin-off competitions at the UFWC forum.

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Features colombia, Germany, New Zealand, North Korea, Switzerland, USA, Zambia

While we await the start of the EAFF East Asian Cup semi final tournament, in which Australia will line up against current Unofficial Football World Champions North Korea, we’re taking a look back at the one and only time the Socceroos have won the UFWC title in a classic match from 1992. We’ll be back with full coverage of the next UFWC title match, North Korea vs Chinese Taipei on 1 December. Meanwhile, if you’re interested in sports betting information, why not check out reviews of sports betting sites here.

USA 0-1 Australia
13 June 1992
Friendly
Citrus Bowl, Orlando
Scorer: Spink

Despite traditionally preferring their footballs to be egg-shaped, the Americans were enjoying their second stint as UFWC champions, having taken the title from Portugal and held off Italy in friendly matches in Chicago earlier in the month.

Australia, another country that preferred its football to be played by alternative rules – and was yet to fully embrace the beautiful game despite having been on the international stage since 1922 – had never played in a UFWC title match.

The match was the first of a ‘goodwill series’ across the Americas designed to give Australia’s Socceroos match practice ahead of World Cup qualifiers.

Among the US players were keeper Tony Meola, defender Marcelo Balboa, and Dutch-born striker Earnie Stewart, all of whom would play for their country in World Cup finals. The US were coached by Yugoslav Velibor ‘Bora’ Milutinovic. Australia’s coach, Eddie Thomson, was a Scot. The Aussie line-up included controversial midfielder Ned Zelic, and defender Tony Vidmar, who would both later have relatively unsuccessful stints in England, with Queen’s Park Rangers and Middlesbrough respectively.

Zelic, of Croatian origin, was signed for £1.3 million by QPR manager Ray Wilkins, who described him as ‘as versatile as an egg’. But the signing was a rotten one – Zelic played only three times for the relegation bound club, suffering persistent knee injuries and eventually deciding that London wasn’t for him. Vidmar, Australia’s most-capped player, also played for Rangers and Cardiff City.

In a muggy and humid Orlando, 17,500 fans braved a huge thunderstorm to get to the game, but the kick-off was delayed for fear that the players would be struck by lightning. Indeed the match was on the verge of being abandoned, when the storm finally passed, and the go-ahead was given.

In slippery conditions, neither side served up much to convince those gathered there that the game had been worth braving the weather. It was a full 85 minutes before the deadlock was broken, with Warren Spink netting the only goal of the game for the Socceroos. Australia took the UFWC title, but lost it in their next ‘goodwill’ match to Argentina.

***

This is an edited extract from Unofficial Football World Champions, the official UFWC book. It traces the history of the UFWC from the very first international match in 1872 via more than 800 title matches, involving legendary teams and footballing minnows, classic finals and forgotten friendlies, celebrated players and unsung heroes.

FourFourTwo magazine called Unofficial Football World Champions “a fascinating history of football” and awarded the book five stars. It’s available in paperback and on Kindle from Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.com
and other Amazon stores worldwide.

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Classic Matches australia, USA