Homeless World Cup: Mexican wave

Scotland couldn't hold on to their 2011 title at the Homeless World Cup in Mexico but they did manage to end the tournament on high.

Saturday's results had conspired to pitch us against England in Sunday's final match.

A play off for 7th place in the Mexico City Trophy might not have been what either side had dreamed of as they trained for the Mexican spotlight.

But a clash with the Auld Enemy always sparks the imagination.

Yesterday Scotland came out on top with a 9-3 victory.

9-3.

A score with a certain resonance in the history of cross border footballing skirmishes.

Redemption can arrive in strange places. I'm sure Frank Haffey is saluting this Scottish team from afar.

Homeless World Cup football is an intense sport. Four-a-side on a tight, enclosed pitch.

It's fast and it can be furious. That was certainly the case in the final game of this tournament as Chile beat hosts Mexico 8-5 to lift the Homeless World Cup trophy.

In front of a huge crowd - watching on from Scotland the attendances at this Homeless World Cup have never failed to amaze - neither side looked prepared to give an inch.

But Chile, who saw off my favourites Brazil in the semi finals, seem a side keen to spring a surprise.

They clung on as Mexico - buoyed by their win in the Women's Homeless World Cup - got off to a flying start. And they got stronger as the game progressed, edging ahead and holding their lead.

Both sides, I'd guess, will have left the pitch knowing they'd been in a hell of game. The referee might have felt the same way.

So the trophy and the post-match glee belonged to Chile.

But, trite as it sounds, there are few losers over the course of this tournament.

The players are experiencing an event few of them could have imagined before they found a communal purpose through football.

The Homeless World Cup itself finds a week long platform to celebrate the work that goes on around the world for the other 51 weeks of the year.

The work I keep mentioning, the work that uses football to change the lives of the forgotten, the marginalised, the ignored and the stigmatised.

Mel Young, co-founder and president of the Homeless World Cup, said after the final:

"There are one hundred million homeless people in the world today and one homeless person is one too many.

"Football has the power to transforms lives and the best result this week was not on the pitch, but how the players took the next step to move forward in their lives and inspire other homeless people to do the same."

Maybe watching a game online, reading this blog or visiting the tournament website will have led someone to change their opinion of homeless people somewhere in the world.

I hope so.

I do know that almost every player in Mexico will already have changed their lives. Most of them will take more positive steps in the weeks, month and years ahead.

Thousands more like them will be on the same journey. Not all of them can make the trip to the Homeless World Cup. But each of them will feel the benefit of the tournament's global stage.

But there's still more to do.

More lives that can be changed by nothing more complicated than this daft, frustrating, simple, infuriating game.

The work goes on.

www.homelessworldcup.org

Homeless World Cup: Auld Enemies Reunited

The penultimate day of the 2012 Homeless World Cup brought more drama and more mixed fortunes for Scotland.

And by the close of play results had conspired to ensure that the final day of the tournament will see an Auld Enemy clash.

With results in the second group stage sending Scotland into the Mexico City Cup for the final two days, yesterday began with another nerve jangling defeat.

This time the opponents were Norway and once again it was to be a defeat in a sudden death penalty shoot-out. The number of Scotland games decided on penalties in 2012 hints at how competitive the tournament has now become. It also shows how fine the margins between winning and losing can be.

The 5-5 draw and shoot-out heartbreak meant Scottish hopes of once again returning home with a trophy were dashed.

England had similarly faltered, their 7-7 draw with Czech Republic ending in defeat after penalties.

That left a final day Scotland v England clash just a game way.

England duly dispatched Hungary 6-3 before Scotland met up once again with second round opponents Ukraine.

After a penalty win on Thursday Scotland were more commanding this time, running our 9-5 winners.

So the stage was set. Scotland v England in Mexico City on the final day of the Homeless World Cup as they play off for 5th place in the Mexico City Cup.

I've been tipping Brazil to challenge for the Homeless World Cup trophy all week but they fell at the semi final stage in an engrossing - if not brutal - penalties defeat against Chile.

Hosts Mexico came through an equally bruising encounter with Indonesia, winning 9-6 to give themselves a great chance of winning their home Homeless World Cup.

Elsewhere Ireland lost to both Haiti and South Africa and will play Poland today for 7th place in the The Fundación Telmex Cup.

Wales fared better with wins against the Philippines and Argentina setting up a De la Calle a la Cancha Cup final against Peru.

Mexico's women matched the men to reach the final of the Women's Homeless World Cup where they'll face Brazil.

Key times today:

• 7:00 pm - Scotland v England
• 10:05 pm - Mexico v Brazil (Women's Homeless World Cup final)
• 10:30 pm - Mexico v Chile (2012 Homeless World Cup final)

You can watch all the final day action at www.homelessworldcup.org

Making his Mark

Scotland captain Mark Stack explain what playing in the Homeless World Cup means to him and how the work of Street Soccer Scotland helped him overcome his addiction and rebuild his confidence.

Discover more Homeless World Cup stories

Find out about the work of Street Soccer Scotland

Homeless World Cup: Scotland pay the penalty

The second group stage of the 2012 Homeless World Cup ended with more disappointment for Scotland.

Scotland led for most of a hotly contested game with South Africa before succumbing to a an equaliser in the dying seconds.

With the game tied at 3-3 Homeless World Cup rules mean that the teams go straight into a sudden-death penalty shoot.

Both scored with their first attempts before Scotland missed their second.

That left South Africa to score and pick up the win.

The result left Scotland tied with Ukraine at the bottom of a group won by Brazil, who beat second placed Portugal yesterday to continue their unbeaten run.

At the Homeless World Cup every team competes throughout the tournament so Scotland and Ukraine both progress into the Mexico City Cup.

As do England, raising the possibility of an Auld Enemy clash on Sunday.

Before that though that Scotland play Norway today while England face up to Czech Republic.

Brazil play Austria in the top ranked Homeless World Cup with Mexico, Portugal, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Chile, Lithuania and Indonesia also still in contention to lift the trophy on Sunday evening.

Wales, defeated by Argentina yesterday, move into the De La Calle A La Cancha Cup and face Peru today.

Ireland, who finished third in Scotland's group, play Haiti in the The Fundación Telmex Cup.

The Scotland game will be live on www.homelessworldcup.org at 6.10 pm this evening.

These people feel like a piece of shit

As I've been saying all week the Homeless World Cup tournament is simply a celebration of the work that goes on for the other 51 weeks of the year.

Work to change lives by using football to empower people.

Work by people like Mexico manager Daniel Copto.

The Homeless World Cup affiliated project in Mexico now involves 7,000 people each week.

Addicts and homeless people from across the country brought together by football and given a belief they might otherwise have lost:

"As far as the authorities are concerned, these people do not exist.

"These people feel like a piece of shit. And you have to tell them they are not a piece of shit, so they can do whatever it takes to get better."

"We must build trust. Empower them."

Read more about Daniel's work in Mexico

Homeless World Cup 2012: Scotland shoot out success

The 2012 Homeless World Cup reaches day six with Scotland in action against Ukraine.

With the teams bottom of Group D after a tough start to the tournament's second stage this always looked like being a tight game.

So it proved.

A high scoring game though.

With the teams locked together at 6-6 at full time it was Scotland who held their nerve to win the sudden death shoot out.

A narrow win but a win. Scotland's first in the second group stage.

With one game left Scotland are two points clear of Ukraine and just one behind tomorrow's opponents South Africa.

At the Homeless World Cup all teams are involved until the end so tomorrow's result could yet decide what trophy Scotland will be contesting over the final days of the tournament.

Brazil still lead the group after four straight wins with Portugal trailing them by a point. Tomorrow's clash between those two could be a cracker.

Ireland, who lost 7-2 against Portugal today, are on five points and will be looking for a win over Ukraine tomorrow to hold off the challenge off the winners of Scotland v South Africa.

With England bottom of Group A, Wales look most likely of the home nations.

They currently trail Argentina by two points in Group E but could yet overhaul them when the two meet in the final game tomorrow.

Wake up, UK

Mel Young, the Homeless World Cup's president and co-founder, has expressed his frustration at the lack of media coverage the tournament receives in Britain:

"The media attention in the UK has been extremely disappointing compared to the rest of the world. And I have to question their understanding of what it's all about.

"Wake up, UK! This is the 10th year we have organised this tournament and on the first weekend alone, we had over 50,000 spectators – more than just about any match in the English Premier League.

"There has been a lot of talk about legacy since the Olympics, and rightly so, and I think it's about time the media played their part in supporting this event, which is not just a fiesta of football but a once-in-a-lifetime experience that transforms the lives of many players – the poorest of the poor around the world."

Hard to disagree.

After a success laden 'summer of sport' the Homeless World Cup would seem to be the perfect way of prolonging the positivity.

But you'll be looking a long time to find much mention of the tournament in our media.

That's maybe stranger still in Scotland where reigning world football champions are somewhat thin on the ground.

And while the tournament is a global event its head office remains in Edinburgh, a social enterprise that continues to deliver results despite the economic woes of the past few years.

Anyway. No need to be starved of the rich tapestry that makes up the Homeless World Cup. Just keep visiting www.homelessworldcup.org

Homeless World Cup 2012: Samba beat

Day two of the second group stage of the Homeless World Cup ended in something of a struggle for Scotland's reigning champions.

Group D always looked tough and so it has proved.

In their first game of the day against Ireland the Scots recovered from 2-1 down at half to snatch a last gasp equaliser in a second half where both keepers excelled.

Homeless World Cup games require a winner though and it was on to a sudden death penalty shoot out. Scotland missed their first attempt, Ireland duly scored and the 2-2 draw was converted into a 3-2 defeat.

If the Irish game had been a challenge the next match against a Brazil side free-scoring their way through the tournament looked like requiring a miracle.

So it proved. Scotland dug in well but - as unpredictable as this tournament often is - Brazil look to be genuine contenders.

A 10-1 defeat leaves Scotland second bottom of Group D, just the bonus point won in the penalty defeat to Ireland keeping them ahead of Ukraine.

They're also the group's lowest scorers so will be out to prove a point in the remaining games against Ukraine and South Africa on Thursday and Friday.

Homeless World Cup goals

Apparently the first four days of the 2012 Mexico Homeless World Cup saw 1,716 goals scored in 2,256 minutes of football.

Quite the spectator sport.

The real achievements though, as I can't stress often enough, are to be found in the other 51 weeks of the year.

It's those achievements that the tournament celebrates.

At football projects around the world people are given the support and belief to change their lives for the better.

People like England goalkeeper Aaron Ranieri. Through his involvement he made the England squad - and the chance to play in a tournament held in the country he left when he was five:

• More at www.homelessworldcup.org
• Watch live tomorrow at www.homelessworldcup.org/mexico-2012

Homeless World Cup 2012: Scotland in Mexico

Day four of the 2012 Homeless World Cup in Mexico yesterday and the tournament entered the second group stage.

After mixed results in the opening group Scotland moved on to face Ireland, Brazil, Portugal, Ukraine and South Africa in the second phase.

Which means facing some traditionally doughty Homeless World Cup opponents.

Yesterday's match against Portugal looked particularly tough.

The Portuguese won all four of their opening games, scoring 34 goals and conceding just eight.

Scotland, defending champions, lost their first two games 6-5 to Lithuania and Indonesia before recovering to beat Greece 4-2 and rounding the group off with a 6-3 win over Peru.

And tough it proved with the Portuguese running out 6-2 winners.

So a difficult opening to the second stage but still a long way to go.

This is one tournament where it doesn't feel trite to say that the taking part is a victory in itself.

Scotland coach David Duke - whose involvement with the tournament began when he was selected for the Scotland team in 2004 - estimates that some 700 players were involved in the selection process for this tournament.

One of the eight chosen for the final squad was Mark Stack, a 35 year old for Coatbridge who has battled heroin addiction and lived through years of homelessness:

"Without that, I wouldn’t be able to reintegrate with people. I’ve went through my life without really having anything, so even to be selected is a massive achievement."

Such stories are repeated globally. The tournament organisers estimate 250,000 people have been involved in Homeless World Cup related projects around the world.

Football is often bombastic in championing itself as a unifying lingua franca.

Every year the Homeless World Cup proves that football really can offer something overwhelmingly positive to the lives it touches.

Having been involved when the tournament was staged in Edinburgh back in 2005 it's also remarkable to see the scale of the event in Mexico City - over 50,000 spectators turned out on the opening weekend alone.

That's not a bad way to celebrate the unique work of the Homeless World Cup throughout the rest of the year - a network of football projects covering 73 nations and giving men and women of all ages the chance to rebuild their lives.

And, with four second group stage games left to play, Scotland's new squad will be keen that the sun doesn't set on our reign as champions just yet.

Visit www.homelessworldcup.org for the latest news, stories and live coverage.

(Source: The Big Issue)

Scotland at the Homeless World Cup today

A couple more big asks for Scotland today.

First up Ireland who started with a defeat to Costa Rica in their opening game but recovered to win their next four.

Yesterday in their opening second round game they drew 4-4 with South Africa.

Later the Scots take on Brazil whose 9-3 win over Ukraine yesterday build on some impressive form that saw them win their opening group games with 49 goals scored and just 12 conceded.

The Ireland game kicks off around 5.50 pm our time with the Brazil match scheduled for around 7.30 pm.

All games can be watched here: www.homelessworldcup.org/mexico-2012