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

2015 AFRICA CUP QUALIFIERS - GROUP STAGE - MALAWI - 5TH MATCHES - PREVIEW

AFRICA CUP 2015 QUALIFIERS GROUP B 

Malawi may be forced to pull out of qualifying for next year's Africa Cup of Nations because they do not have the money to play their final two games.

They sit in third place in Group B, with matches against second-placed Mali and bottom side Ethiopia to come.

Malawi Football Association general secretary Suzgyo Nyirenda told BBC Sport they are trying to secure sponsorship to fulfil their fixtures.

Nyirena said: "The cut-off point for a decision will be 4th/5th November."

Malawi are scheduled to host Mali on 15 November and travel to Ethiopia for their final match four days later.

Should they fail to raise the money required to play those games, they will be disqualified and their results removed from the table - which will significantly alter the standings.

Malawi have recorded a win over Ethiopia but lost to Mali.

Should these results be declared void, it would mean Ethiopia and Mali would be level on points and fighting for the second automatic qualification spot behind Algeria, who are already through and would be declared group winners.

Malawi Football Association general secretary Suzgyo Nyirenda told BBC Sport: "The government has already told us they would not be able to fund the team for the remaining games.

"We cannot go into camp without the funds so we are contemplating pulling out of the competition.

It would be the last resort.

We are trying to engage a number of organisations to give us US$155,000 to complete the assignment.

"If we cannot raise the money we will be fined and banned (by the Confederation of African Football) and even our youth teams will be affected.

"We thought Malawi was progressing well, in terms of performances and rankings, but funding has always been a problem and this shows the situation in the country.

"It is pathetic we have reached this position.

We are hopeful something will happen, but if the situation remains the same we will definitely have to pull out."

 

2 Nov 2014
(BBC Sport UK)

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