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
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

NATIONAL TEAM - KENYA - COACH - Williamson appointed as new coach

Former Uganda coach Bobby Williamson has been appointed Kenya coach.

Williamson replaces Adel Amrouche, who departed after Kenya's shock elimination from the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The Harambee Stars were knocked out 1:0 on aggregate by Lesotho on Sunday.

Football Federation of Kenya chairman Sam Nyamweya told BBC Sport: "We are very satisfied with Bobby Williamson. 

He took Uganda to where they are now. Let us give him a chance."

The appointment of Williamson comes despite Amrouche's insistence he has not even been informed he is no longer employed as Kenya coach.

However, Nyamweya said the Belgian was unable to remain in the post because he is suspended by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Amrouche is currently appealing against a one-year ban for allegedly spitting at an official during a Nations Cup qualifier against Comoros in May.

Although it appears to be a controversial and complex situation, Nyamweya feels the matter is straightforward and shifted the responsibility away from Football Federation of Kenya.

"We have not sacked him," said Nyamweya "he has been suspended by CAF for one year.

"Amrouche is not capable of doing his work so we had to get a replacement. We have no issue with Amrouche but his fate lies with CAF.

"When he finishes the suspension and if he wants to come back to the federation he has just to apply like anybody else and we will look at it."

Nyamweya also defended the decision to sack the entire Kenyan technical staff immediately after Harambee Stars' goalless draw in their second-leg match at home to Lesotho.

"They had to go," he said. "The team they fielded on Sunday...if I was a coach I would not have fielded that team, it was pathetic."

Williamson was in charge of the Cranes for five years and twice took them to the verge of qualifying for the Nations Cup - in 2013 Uganda were denied only be a penalty shoot-out loss to Zambia.

His latest role was coach of Gor Mahia, who he led to the Kenyan Premier League title last season on first attempt.

Williamson will be assisted by former Kenya international defender Musa Otieno

Simeon Mulama takes over the team managers' role.

"Otieno is a young boy, a former player and captain for 17 years who played in South Africa. He has connections all over Africa. 

We must give our boys a chance. 

These are the people we want to come up through the ranks. 

The same for Mulama," said Nyamweya.

6 Aug 2014
(BBC Sport UK)

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