NATIONAL TEAM - SWITZERLAND - 2014 WORLD CUP - Goodbye, Ottmar Hitzfeld. All the best and take care.

Hitzfeld has made a positive impression wherever he has been stationed and his name is still regularly chanted in the stands at Bayern Munich.

“He put together a really good team that will last for many years to come,” Granit Xhaka told FIFA.com, before Josip Drmic added: “He’s done a great job.” 

2 Jul 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - DAY 19 - LAST SIXTEEN - ARGENTINA VS SWITZERLAND 1:0

LAST SIXTEEN
1st July 2014

Argentina vs Switzerland 1:0

1 Jul 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - DAY 19 - LAST SIXTEEN - BELGIUM VS USA 2:1

LAST SIXTEEN
1st July 2014

Belgium vs USA 2:1

1 Jul 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - ARGENTINA - KEY PLAYER - ‪LIONEL MESSI - PROFILE

Lionel Andrés Messi; born 24 June 1987, is an Argentine footballer who plays as a forward for Spanish club FC Barcelona and the Argentina national team. He serves as the captain of his country's national football team.

By the age of 21, Messi had received Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year nominations. The following year, in 2009, he won his first Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year awards. 

1 Jul 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - USA - KEY PLAYER - ‪JERMAINE JONES - PROFILE

Jermaine Junior Jones, born 3 November 1981, is a German-American footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Turkish club Beşiktaş. He has previously played for Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayer Leverkusen, Blackburn Rovers and Schalke 04. He was born in Germany and represented them at U21 and senior level.

1 Jul 2014
NATIONAL TEAM - NIGERIA - COACH - STEPHEN KESHI RESIGNS AFTER EXIT

He becomes the sixth manager to leave his job during the World Cup, following the departures of Honduras's Luis Suarez, Iran's Carlos Queiroz, Japan's Alberto Zaccheroni, Italy's Cesare Prandelli and Ivory Coast's Sabri Lamouchi.

Keshi, who captained Nigeria at the 1994 World Cup finals, was previously in charge of Mali and Togo.

1 Jul 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - DAY 18 - LAST SIXTEEN - FRANCE vs NIGERIA 2:0

LAST SIXTEEN
30th June 2014

France vs Nigeria 2:0

30 Jun 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - DAY 18 - LAST SIXTEEN - GERMANY vs ALGERIA 2:1

LAST SIXTEEN
30th June 2014

Germany vs Algeria 2:1

30 Jun 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - GERMANY - KEY PLAYER - THOMAS MUELLER‬ - PROFILE

Müller's role can be described as an attacking all-rounder, a player able to play in a variety of forward positions. He can play in any of the attacking midfield roles but usually plays in the center for Bayern Munich, and on the right for Germany.

He has been used as an out-and-out striker on occasion. Müller has been praised for his maturity, pace, technique, awareness and positioning.

30 Jun 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - FRANCE - KEY PLAYER - ‪KARIM BENZEMA - PROFILE

He has been named French Player of the Year twice for his performances in 2011 and 2012. Benzema is a former French youth international and has represented his nation from under-17 level onwards. 

Benzema has earned over 65 caps and represented France at three major international tournaments; the 2008 and 2012 editions of the UEFA European Football Championship and the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

30 Jun 2014

2015 Africa Cup qualifier - 1st round 1st leg - fixtures & results

Mozambique thrash debutants South Sudan in 2015 qualifying - South Sudan's first ever Africa Cup of Nations qualifier ended in a crushing 5:0 defeat to Mozambique in a 2015 first found round first leg tie on Sunday.

AFRICA CUP 2015 PRELIMINARIES

 

        Mozambique vs South Sudan 5:0 

The first goal came from Josimar Machaisse. who scored from the edge of the box as he connected with a cross whipped in form the left wing. Then four minutes before half-time defender Mexer was given space outside the area and struck a rising shot into the far corner. Sonito got in behind the South Sudanese defender to head home a third and then scored his second after the break. The final goal came with six minutes left to play through Isac Carvalho. The second leg of the tie will be played in the Sudanese capital Khartoum because of the ongoing civil unrest in South Sudan.

 

        Madagascar vs Uganda 2:1 

Also on Sunday Madagascar caused a surprise on Sunday with a 2:1 win over visitors Uganda. The hosts took the lead after just nines minutes with a penalty from Faneva Andriatsima before Carolus Andriamahitsinoro doubled the lead midway through the first half. Madagascar had the chance to extend their advantage but they failed to score from the penalty spot in the second-half. Hamis Kiiza then scored what could prove to be a vital away goal with a spot-kick in the very last moments of the match. Uganda are traditionally strong at home and will believe they can overturn the deficit in the second leg in Kampala in two weeks time.  The Cranes are ranked more than 100 places above Madagascar on the Fifa rankings.

 

        Kenya vs Comoros 1:0 

Kenya only managed a 1:0 win in Nairobi over the tiny Comoros Islands. Belgium-based Johanna Omolo grabbed the only goal of the match 6 minutes before half-time.

 

        Tanzania vs Zimbabwe 1:0 

There was a narrow 1:0 win for Tanzania over Zimbabwe in Dar es Salaam thanks to a goal from John Bocco. The towering striker scored from close range early in the second-half after being set-up by DR Congo based Thomas Ulimwengu to spark celebrations in half-filled stadium.

Ulimwengu had featured for TP Mazembe as they lost 1:0 to Al Hilal of Sudan in the African Champions League on Friday, but arrived in time to play for his country as did his club mate Mbwana Samata. Tanzania coach Mart Nooij was happy after the victory in his first game in charge of the Taifa Stars, following his appointment in April. "My strategy in Harare will be to play football, Zimbabwe is a strong team, we are also strong, either of us could still go through," he said.
 

    •    Liberia vs Lesotho 1:0 

It also finished 1:0 to Liberia in their home leg against Lesotho in Monrovia. Liberia skipper Anthony Laffor scoring for the hosts five minutes before half-time.

 

    •    Swaziland vs Sierra Leone 1:1 

Swaziland held visitors Sierra Leone to a 1:1 draw. The Leone Stars took the lead early in the game trough Sulaiman Fullah Sesay but Swaziland equalised nine minutes after the break with a deflected shot from Sidumo Shongwe.

The overall winners will face Seychelles for a place in Group D alongside Cameroon, DR Congo and Ivory Coast. Seychelles got a bye into the second round of qualifying following the disqualification of The Gambia from all CAFcompetitions for two years for age cheating in the African Under-20 Championship qualifiers.
 

    •    Burundi vs Botswana 0:0 

There was a goalless draw in Bujumbura between Burundi and Botswana, who had Oscar Ncenga sent off for a second yellow card in the final minutes of the match.

 

    •    CAR vs Guinea-Bissau 0:0 

Central African Republic and Guinea Bissau also played out a 0:0 draw on Sunday. The game was played in the Congolese capital Brazzaville due to the ongoing security problems in Bangui. 

 

        Libya vs Rwanda 0:0

Another match played on neutral territory because of security concerns in the host country was Libya against Rwanda. The match was played at the Rades Stadium in Tunisia and also ended 0:0. The second legs of the first round matches will be played over the weekend of 31 May and 1 June.

 

 

19 May 2014
(BBC Sport UK)

Related countries

Related articles