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

TRANSFER - IVORY COAST - Serge Aurier joins Paris St-Germain on loan from Toulouse

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN 

Ivory Coast international Serge Aurier has joined French champions Paris St-Germain on loan from Toulouse.

With sanctions looming over PSG after they failed Uefa's financial fair play (FFP) rules. 

The club has negotiated an option to buy Aurier at a later date.

The 21-year-old right-back played in all of his country's matches at the World Cup in Brazil.

"To play for PSG, with the exceptional players this club has, is a dream come true," Aurier told the club's website. 

"I will give my maximum to help the club reach the summits.

After taking part in the World Cup for the first time, I am having a fantastic summer.

"I would like to thank the club for the confidence they have shown in me."

Aurier had been linked with a move to the English Premier League, with Arsenal believed to have made a bid for the defender.

PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said:

"Serge Aurier, one of the most promising young players in world football, courted by the biggest clubs, has chosen Paris St-Germain to continue to shine on the European stage.

"We are delighted to welcome this young player into our team."

Aurier, who will wear the number 19, becomes the capital club's second recruit of the transfer window following the arrival of Brazil defender David Luiz from Chelsea.


Career highlights

• Starts career with Lens
plays 40 matches 
between 2009-12

• Jan 2012: 
Joins Toulouse
plays 78 games
scores eight goals

• Named best right-back 
in Ligue 1 team of the season for 2013/14

• June 2013: 
Wins first of 11 Ivory Coast caps
goes on to play in three 2014 World Cup matches

• July 2014: 
Joins PSG on loan

 

 

 

25 Jul 2014
(BBC Sport UK)

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