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
2014 WORLD CUP - DAY 17 - LAST SIXTEEN - NETHERLANDS VS MEXICO 2:1

LAST SIXTEEN
29th June 2014

Netherlands vs Mexico 2:1

Lucky dutchmen!

29 Jun 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - DAY 17 - LAST SIXTEEN - COSTA RICA VS GREECE 5:4 - win on penalties

LAST SIXTEEN
29th June 2014

Costa Rica vs Greece 5:4

Costa Rica through on penalties.

29 Jun 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - MEXICO - KEY PLAYER - ‪Giovani dos Santos‬ - PROFILE

Giovani dos Santos‬ was born in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Giovani joined FC Barcelona's academy of La Masia at the age of eleven and played for Barcelona's Juvenil A category where he helped his team to make a comeback in the league and win the regional title. 

This title allowed them to participate in the Youth Copa del Rey, where they faced other regional champions, among them their historic arch-rivals, Real Madrid. 

29 Jun 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - NETHERLANDS - KEY PLAYER - ARJEN ROBBEN‬ - PROFILE

Arjen Robben 

Though often classified as a forward, he usually plays behind the forwards as a winger. Robben is known for his dribbling skills, speed, crossing ability and his accurate left foot long-range shots from the right wing.

29 Jun 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - DAY 16 - LAST SIXTEEN - BRAZIL VS CHILE 3:2 - advanced on penalties

LAST SIXTEEN
28th June 2014

Brazil vs Chile 3:2 

Hosts Brazil knock Chile out of the 2014 Fifa World Cup in the second round with a 3:2 win on penalties.

28 Jun 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - DAY 16 - LAST SIXTEEN - COLOMBIA VS URUGUAY - 2:0

LAST SIXTEEN
28th June 2014

Colombia vs Uruguay 2:0

James Rodriguez makes the difference! 

28 Jun 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - COLOMBIA - KEY PLAYER - James Rodríguez - PROFILE

James Rodríguez expressing his honor to be praised by his hero, 'El Pibe' Valderrama.

"Rodríguez is mentally sharp, possessing quick reactions when closed down which allows him to keep control of the ball and making him more likely to be fouled. While left footed, he's able to control the ball just as well with his right foot." 

(El Pibe' Valderrama)

28 Jun 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - LAST-SIXTEEN - Matches and Teams out

Teams who have reached the round of the last sixteen

27 Jun 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - DAY 15 - GROUP G & GROUP H - PREVIEW

GROUP G
USA vs Germany -:-
Portugal vs Ghana -:-

GROUP H
Korea vs Belgium -:-
Algeria vs Russia -:-

26 Jun 2014

African Champions League 2014 - group stage - 2nd matches - fixtures

Democratic Republic of Congo rivals AS Vita Club and TP Mazembe will meet this weekend in a Champions League tie only two weeks after their last match ended in tragedy. Fifteen people were killed and dozens more injured in a stampede at the sides' league match at the Tata Raphael Stadium in Kinshasa. The Confederation of African Football has expressed its deepest sympathy to the families of the deceased but the governing body has put no specific security measures in place for Sunday's game in Lubumbashi.

While Mazembe were 1:0 winners in that fateful league match, clinching the league title in the process, the club are bottom of their Champions League group and AS Vita are top after the first matchday. Vita beat Egyptians Zamalek 1:0, while Mazembe fell 1-0 to Al Hilal of Sudan. It means there is a lot at stake on and off the pitch for the teams, who will each be keen for a victory and a peaceful event.

Those opening results also mean the pressure is on Zamalek as they face Al Hilal in the weekend's other Group A tie. But Zamalek coach Mido remains confident, telling reporters: ""We will not drop any points during the coming games." He also wrote on Twitter: "I am betting on us qualifying from this group and reaching the final after a lengthy absence."

The last of Zamalek's five African triumphs came 12 years ago when they edged Moroccans Raja Casablanca 1:0 over two legs. Hilal will be wary of Moemen Zakariya, the leading Zamalek scorer in Africa this season with three goals. No Sudanese has scored more than once, but Mido must have noted the aerial strength of Salah Al-Jazouli, which brought him the winner against Mazembe.

Tunisians Esperance , favourites to win Group B and go on to secure a third title, suffered a shock 2:1 home defeat against Algerians Entente Setif last weekend. They travel to Sudanese city Omdurman for the match against Al Ahli Benghazi, who cannot play at home because of civil unrest. Haythem Jouini of Esperance and Zimbabwe-born Edward Sadomba of Benghazi have scored 10 Champions League goals between them this season.

The other fixture pits Setif against Tunisians CS Sfaxien in a top-of-the-table.

 

23 May 2014
(BBC Sport UK)

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