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 - SEMI FINALS - 1ST LEG - ALL RESULTS

AFRICAN CONFEDERATION CUP 2014

Coton Sport vs Al Ahly 0:1
Séwé Sport vs AC Léopards 1:0

Egyptians Al-Ahly made a timely return to form with a 1:0 CAF Confederation Cup semi-final, first-leg win at Cameroonians Coton Sport.

The Cairo 'Red Devils' had won just one of their previous five matches in the second-tier African club competition and scored a meagre three goals.

Attacking midfielder Walid Soliman was Ahly's match-winner, scoring the only goal on 72 minutes at Stade Omnisports Roumde-Adja in the north-western city of Garoua.

Collecting a pass from Burkina Faso-born substitute Moussa Yedan, Soliman unleashed a left-foot shot that beat Cameroon reserve goalkeeper Loic Feudjou.

Soliman, who recently returned to the starting line-up after a long injury absence, troubled Coton from the kick-off.

An acrobatic Feudjou save foiled Soliman in the opening minute and the Egyptian later failed to score when one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

Coton came close to breaking the deadlock just before Soliman struck - Ivorian Kako Rostan narrowly failing to connect with a cross from 16-year-old Moussa Bana.

This was the fifth CAF match between the clubs and Coton Sport have yet to win, losing twice and drawing three.

Ahly who have won a record 18 African titles, host the return match in Cairo next Sunday and look set to become the first Confederation Cup finalists from Egypt.

The other semi-final is more delicately balanced after Ivorians Sewe Sport edged Congolese visitors AC Leopards 1:0 in Abidjan.

Christian Kouame scored the match-winner 11 minutes after half-time at Stade Robert Champroux in the commercial capital.

His only other Confederation Cup goal this season came seven matches ago from the penalty spot in a play-off victory at Nigerians Bayelsa United.

Defeat ended a purple patch by the 2012 winners Leopards, who scored four goals each against Coton and Ivorians ASEC Mimosas in group games.

The sides clash again on Saturday in the Congolese city of Dolisie and the overall winners will enjoy home advantage first in the two-leg decider.

 

22 Sep 2014
(BBC SPORT UK)

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