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

African Confederation Cup 2014 - group stage - 4TH MATCHES - All RESULTS

AFRICAN CONFEDERATION CUP

Group A
• 27 July: Coton Sport vs Asec Mimosas 2:1
• 27 July: AC Leopards vs Real Bamako 1:2
Group B    
• 27 July: Al Ahly vs Sewe Sports 1:0
• 27 July: Nkana vs Etoile du Sahel 4:3

 

Egyptians Al Ahly overcame Ivorian visitors Sewe San Pedro 1:0 in Cairo to build a three-point lead in Group B of the Confederation Cup.

The result gave Spanish coach Juan Carlos Garrido a winning debut in the continental competition at the start of his two-year contract with the winners of a record 18 African titles.

Ahly have eight points with two rounds left.

Etoile du Sahel have five, with Nkana and Sewe both on three in Group B of the second-tier Caf club competition.

Midfielder Walid Soliman returned from a long injury lay-off to score Ahly's goal off a fourth-minute penalty and keep the Egyptians on track to win the group.

The scoreline should have been much greater in Ahly's favour. 

The Cairo 'Red Devils' squandered numerous scoring chances at a spectator-less Air Defence Stadium.

Egyptian authorities have barred supporters from CAF club fixtures involving Ahly and Cairo neighbours Zamalek since clashes with police this year.

There was plenty to entertain the capacity 5,000 Nkana Stadium crowd in Zambia where Nkana beat Tunisians Etoile Du Sahel 4:3 in an eventful match.

Youssef Mouihbi converted an early penalty for Etoile only for Nkana to level through Ronald Kampamba and then go ahead when Festus Mbewe scored.

The lead lasted just four minutes before Sofiane Moussa equalised with a superb goal to leave the clubs level at 2:2 going into the break.

Knowing only a victory would keep them in contention for a last-four place, Nkana pushed hard from the second-half kick-off and received a two-goal reward.

Simon Bwalya and Christopher Munthali were the scorers and as the hour mark passed the Zambians were sitting on a two-goal cushion.

They retained that advantage until five minutes into stoppage time when Mouihbi converted his second penalty, but could not prevent Etoile suffering a defeat.

In a remarkable coincidence, the first meeting of the clubs last month also ended 4-3 with Etoile coming from behind three times to win in the Mediterranean resort of Sousse.

Cameroonians Coton Sport are virtually assured of a semi-finals place from Group A after early goals set up a 2:1 home win over Ivorians ASEC Mimosas in Garoua.

Stephane Kingou and Niger star Daouda Kamilou scored within six minutes of the kick-off and Foba Stevens Koffi pulled one back before half-time.

Congolese club AC Leopards , surprise winners of the 2012 Confederation Cup, suffered a shock defeat by Malians Real Bamako on Sunday.

The visitors opened the scoring through Ali Badra Sylla but only five minutes later Cesaire Gandze equalised for Leopards.

In the second half Souleymane Diarra struck what proved to be the winner despite Leopards piling on the pressure and coming close to a goal when Boris Moubhio hit the bar.

 

28 Jul 2014
(BBC Sport UK)

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