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
2014 WORLD CUP - DAY 16 - LAST SIXTEEN - BRAZIL VS CHILE 3:2 - advanced on penalties

LAST SIXTEEN
28th June 2014

Brazil vs Chile 3:2 

Hosts Brazil knock Chile out of the 2014 Fifa World Cup in the second round with a 3:2 win on penalties.

28 Jun 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - DAY 16 - LAST SIXTEEN - COLOMBIA VS URUGUAY - 2:0

LAST SIXTEEN
28th June 2014

Colombia vs Uruguay 2:0

James Rodriguez makes the difference! 

28 Jun 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - COLOMBIA - KEY PLAYER - James Rodríguez - PROFILE

James Rodríguez expressing his honor to be praised by his hero, 'El Pibe' Valderrama.

"Rodríguez is mentally sharp, possessing quick reactions when closed down which allows him to keep control of the ball and making him more likely to be fouled. While left footed, he's able to control the ball just as well with his right foot." 

(El Pibe' Valderrama)

28 Jun 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - LAST-SIXTEEN - Matches and Teams out

Teams who have reached the round of the last sixteen

27 Jun 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - DAY 15 - GROUP G & GROUP H - PREVIEW

GROUP G
USA vs Germany -:-
Portugal vs Ghana -:-

GROUP H
Korea vs Belgium -:-
Algeria vs Russia -:-

26 Jun 2014

2015 AFRICA CUP - BURKINA FASO - TRAORE BROTHERS IN SQUAD

AFRICA CUP 2015 QUALIFIERS AFRICA CUP 2015

GROUP A - FIXTURES
17 Jan: vs Gabon in Bata
21 Jan: vs Equatorial Guinea in Bata
25 Jan: vs Congo in Ebebiyin

Burkina Faso coach Paul Put has included brothers Alain and Bertrand Traore in a preliminary 24-man squad for January's Africa Cup of Nations finals.

Bertrand, who is on loan at Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem from Chelsea, missed out on the 2013 Nations Cup when Burkina Faso finished as runners-up.

He was part of the Burkina Faso squad that lost all its matches at the 2012 tournament in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon as a 16-year-old.

Alain missed out on the Stallions' run to the final in 2013 after picking up a thigh injury in the final group game against Zambia.

He had scored three goals in their opening two games in South Africa to ensure their passage to the quarter-finals.

Jonathan Pitroipa, the Player of the Tournament in 2013, is once again included in Put's initial list.

Defender Paul Koulibaly has also retained his squad place, after being recalled for the final qualifier against Angola.

He had been left out of the squad since last year after struggling to play regularly at club level.

Missing from the list is experienced goalkeeper Daouda Diakité, who was absent from the qualifying campaign because of injury.

Defender Issoufou Dayo, who plays for AS Vita Club in DR Congo and was part of the squad for the qualifiers, has also been left out.

Burkina Faso are in Group A at the Nations Cup where they will face hosts Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Congo-Brazzaville.

 

Burkina Faso preliminary squad:


Goalkeepers: 

Germain Sanou 
(Bauvais, France)

Abdoulaye Soulama 
(Hearts of Oak, Ghana)

Moussa Fofana 
(Rail Club du Kadiogo)


Defenders: 

Mohamed Koffi 
(Zamalek, Egypt)

Wilfried Balima 
(Sheriff Tiraspol, Moldova)

Bakary Koné 
(Lyon, France)

Florent Rouamba 
(CA Bastia, France)

Steve Yago 
(Toulouse, France)

Paul Koulibaly 
(Horoya, Guinea)

Narcisse Bambara 
(CF Cluj, Romania)

Issa Gouo 
(As Kaloum, Guinea)


Midfielders: 

Jonathan Zongo
(Almeria, Spain)

Préjuce Nakoulma 
(Mersin, Turkey)

Charles Kaboré 
(Kuban, Russia)

Djakaridja Koné 
(Evian, France)

Abdul Razack Traoré 
(Karakbukspor, Turkey)

Bertrand Traoré 
(Vitesse Arnhem, Netherlands)

Moussa Yedan
(Al Ahly, Egypt)

Adama Guira 
(Sonderyesk, Denmark)


Forwards: 

Jonathan Pitroipa 
(Al Jazira, UAE)

Aristide Bancé 
(HJK Helsinki, Finland)

Issaka Ouédraogo 
(Admira Wacker, Austria)

Alain Traore 
(FC Lorient, France)

Banou Diawarra 
(RC Bobo Dioulasso)

 

23 Dec 2014
(BBC Sport UK)

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