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 - CONGO DR - KIDIABA TO END INTERNATIONAL CAREER AFTER 2015 NATIONS CUP

AFRICA CUP 2015 AFRICA CUP 2015 QUALIFIERS

But the 38-year-old TP Mazembe player who made his debut in 2002 and has gone on to win 52 caps wants to leave on a high.

The veteran, who played at the 2013 tournament in South Africa, believes the Leopards must aim for the latter stages of Africa's top competition. 

DR Congo are drawn in Group B alongside Tunisia, Zambia and Cape Verde.

"The year 2015 is when I have to end my international career with DR Congo and it's an opportunity not to be missed," Kidiaba told TP Mazembe's official website  .

"As captain of the national team, I want to help my country reach a respectable spot beyond our group in Equatorial Guinea."

Despite failing to go beyond the group stage in 2004 and 2013, Kidiaba insists reaching the last eight must be a target for Florent Ibengé's side this term.

"There is no small country in our group but we need to aim higher as a team." he added.

"We must take Cape Verde seriously because they are organised and have proved to everyone that they must be respected.

"As former champions Tunisia are very formidable but we have also shown during the qualifiers that we cannot be underestimated.

"The game that TP Mazembe fans are looking forward to is the opening game against Zambia because Rainford Kalaba and Given Singuluma are well known in Lubumbashi and throughout the country."

Kidiaba, famed for the 'bum shuffle' goal celebration - by bouncing around his penalty area - on his backside, helped DR Congo side TP Mazembe achieve back to back African Champions League titles in 2009 and 2010.

The goalkeeper who joined Mazembe in 2002 from AS Saint-Luc attained global recognition at the 2009 and 2010 Fifa Club World Cups in the UAE with his unique goal celebration.

With his heroics between the sticks in 2010, Mazembe became the first African team to reach the Club World Cup final but lost to Italian giants Inter Milan.

Kidiaba has two CAF Super Cup titles and won seven national league titles with Mazembe in 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

7 Dec 2014
(BBC Sport by Oluwashina Okeleji)

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