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
2014 WORLD CUP - NETHERLANDS - KEY PLAYER - ARJEN ROBBEN‬ - PROFILE

Arjen Robben 

Though often classified as a forward, he usually plays behind the forwards as a winger. Robben is known for his dribbling skills, speed, crossing ability and his accurate left foot long-range shots from the right wing.

29 Jun 2014

NATIONAL TEAM - LIBERIA - NEW COACH DEBBAH PROMISES DISCIPLINE

AFRICA CUP 2015 PRELIMINARIES

The former international, who signed a three-year contract on Friday, has promised a no-nonsense approach.

"We intend to use a more professional approach to instil discipline in the team and everybody will have to follow my instructions," he told BBC Sport.

"In other words, it's going to be my way or no way at all."

Liberia's all-time leading goalscorer replaces caretaker coach Thomas Kojo, who was unable to lead Lone Star past the preliminary rounds of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

"There will be no free meals under my watch, so every player has got to earn their red, white and blue shirt," Debbah added.

"My main goal is to recruit and develop local talents from the annual county sports meetings and the domestic league.

"But as you know we can only do that when the country has been declared Ebola free.

"In the interim, we will be put together strategies and action plans for how we intend to go about this national assignment when the 'green light' has been given by health authorities and the FA for us to start work."

Liberia suspended all football activities in August in order to help prevent the potential spread of Ebola through bodily contact on the pitch and the gathering of large crowds at football matches.

Debbah has a wealth of playing experience having spent time in France for Monaco, Lyon, Nice and PSG as well as in Belgium with Anderlecht before retiring in 2004 with Al-Jazira in Abu Dhabi.

However, his only coaching role so far is with his Liberian club Mighty Barrolle.

Meanwhile, his former team-mate Christopher Wreh, who played for English club Arsenal, has been appointed to take charge of the Under-20 team.

Wreh hopes to raise the profile of Liberian football by producing quality players to feature for the national side.

Liberia have never reached the World Cup finals and only ever been to two Nations Cup tournaments in 1996 and 2002.

 

24 Nov 2014
(BBC Sport, Monrovia by Hassan Kiawu)

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