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

AFRICAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2014 - SEMI FINALS - 2ND LEG - ALL RESULTS

AFRICAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2014

Semi-finals second legs 
• 27.09.2014: CS Sfaxien vs AS Vita Club 1:2 (Agg - 2:4) 
• 28.09.2014: TP Mazembe vs Entente Setif 3:2 (Agg - 4:4)

Algeria's Entente Setif booked their place in the final on away goals.

Despite losing the second leg of their semi-final 3:2 to TP Mazembe in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Mazembe, who lost the first leg in Algeria 2:1, were leading 3:1 and seemingly on the verge of going through to an historic first all-DR Congo final to meet AS Vita Club.

But Setif struck a second precious away goal 11 minutes from time to seize the advantage.

That made the score 4:4 on aggregate, with Setif going through on the away goals ruling and ensuring the Algerians' first final appearance since they won the title in 1988.

Both of Setif's goals came from crosses that caught out home goalkeeper Robert Kidiaba. Abdelmalek Ziaya netted in the eighth minute and substitute Sofiane Younes late in the second half.

After going behind to Ziaya's opener, Mazembe fought back with goals from Daniel Adjei, Salif Coulibaly and Joel Merikani only to see their goalkeeper beaten by Younes's late cross from near the corner flag.

CS Sfaxien vs AS Vita Club 1:2

AS Vita Club of the Democratic Republic of Congo defeated CS Sfaxien 2:1 in Sfax in Tunisia to reach the final of this year's African Champions League.

Vita also won their home game 2:1 last weekend, to secure a 4:2 aggregate triumph.

They become the first club in the 50 year history of Africa's premier club competition to defend a 2:1 first-leg advantage.

Ivorians Asec Mimosas, Togolese Lome 1, Senegal's Diaraf and Jeanne d'Arc, Cameroonians Canon Yaounde, Sudanese El-Hilal and Egyptians Al Ahly have all failed down the years.

Vita Club fell behind in the match in Sfax early on, when Zied Derbali gave 2006 Champions League runners-up Sfaxien the lead on 26 minutes.

Nelson Munganga levelled just before half-time.

Ugandan Yunus Sentamu put the Kinshasa club ahead 10 minutes into the second half, leaving Sfaxien needing at least three goals to survive.

Victory for 1973 winners Vita has created the possibility of more history - a first African Champions League final between clubs from the same country.

 

28 Sep 2014
(BBC Sport UK and cafonline.com)

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