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 - MALI - MAIGA RECALLED TO SQUAD

AFRICA CUP 2015 QUALIFIERS AFRICA CUP 2015

GROUP D - FIXTURES
20 Jan : vs Cameroon in Malabo
24 Jan: vs Ivory Coast in Malabo
28 Jan: vs Guinea in Mongomo


The 27-year-old, on loan to French side Metz from West Ham United, has not played for the Eagles in over a year.

Wolverhampton Wanderers' top scorer Bakary Sako, who has scored seven goals this season, has also been called up.

He will miss up to five Championship games for Wolves as they chase promotion to the Premier League.

Bordeaux midfielder Abdou Traore is another who has earned a return to the squad after more than a year out of the national team.

N'Tji Michel Samake from local side Duguwolofila Mali also makes the cut despite not appearing on the preliminary list of 35 players announced by Kasperczak last week.

But Wolves player Nouha Dicko and AC Ajaccio goalkeeper Oumar Sissoko have been overlooked.

The team will be captained by 34-year-old Roma midfielder Seydou Keita, who will be playing at his seventh Nations Cup finals.

Otherwise coach Henryk Kasperczak provided few other surprises in his squad, with the Yatabare brothers Mustapha and Sambou selected as expected.

Mali, who have finished third at the last two continental finals, have been drawn in a difficult Group D along with Ivory Coast, Cameroon and Guinea in the 17 January to 8 February tournament.


Mali Squad:


Goalkeepers: 

Soumaïla Diakite 
(Esteghlal Khuzestan, Iran)

Germain Berthe 
(Eleven Creators) 

N'Tji Michel Samake 
(CS Duguwolofila Mali)


Defenders: 

Drissa Diakite 
(Bastia, France)

Fousseyni Diawara 
(Tours, France)

Molla Wague 
(Udinese, Italy)

Ousmane Coulibaly 
(Platanias, Greece)

Adama Tamboura 
(Randers, Denmark)

Idrissa Coulibaly 
(Hassania Agadir, Morocco)

Salif Coulibaly 
(TP Mazembe, DR Congo)

Mohamed Konate 
(Renaissance Berkane. Morocco)


Midfielders: 

Seydou Keita 
(Roma, Italy)

Tongo Hamed 
Doumbia (Toulouse, France)

Yacouba Sylla 
(Erciyesspor, Turkey)

Mamoutou N'Diaye 
(Zulte Waregem, Belgium)

Abdou Traore 
(Bordeaux, France)

Sigamary Diarra 
(Valenciennes, France)


Forwards: 

Cheick Tidiane Diabate 
(Bordeaux, France)

Bakary Sako 
(Wolverhampton Wanderers, England)

Mustapha Yatabare 
(Trabzonspor, Turkey)

Sambou Yattabare 
(Guingamp, France)

Abdoulaye Diaby 
(Mouscron, Belgium)

Modibo Maiga 
(Metz, France)

 

31 Dec 2014
(BBC Sport UK)

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