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 - EQUATORIAL GUINEA - SQUAD ANNOUNCED

Africa Cup 2015 GROUP A

GROUP D - FIXTURES 
17 Jan: vs Congo in Bata
21 Jan: vs Burkina Faso in Bata
25 Jan: vs Gabon in Ebebiyin


Africa Cup of Nations hosts Equatorial Guinea have included 14 players who were born in Spain in their final 23-man squad for the tournament.

They have in recent years included imports from other countries but were expelled from the Nations Cup qualifiers in July for using ineligible Cameroon-born player Thierry Fidieu.

However, they were restored t the event in November when they agreed to take over as hosts from Morocco, who wanted the finals postponed over their fears of the potential spread of Ebola.

New Equatorial Guinea coach Esteban Becker was appointed on Tuesday and will have less than two weeks to prepare the squad for their opening Group A match against Congo in Bata on 17 January.

His squad includes teenage goalkeeper Aitor Embela, who plays for Malaga's youth team, Ruben Belima from Real Madrid's reserves and Ivan Salvador, a 19-year-old from Valencia B.

Five of the squad made their debut on Wednesday in a warm-up friendly against the Cape Verde Islands in Lisbon.


Squad:

Goalkeepers: 

Aitor Embela 
(Malaga)

Carlos Mosibe 
(CA Malabo)

Felipe Ovono 
(Deportivo Mongomo)


Defenders: 

Igor Engonga 
(CD Tropezon)

Dani Evuy 
(Leones Vegetarianos)

Diosdado Mbele 
(Leones Vegetarianos)

Miguel Angel Maye 
(Akonangui)

Rui 
(Hibernians FC)

Sipo 
(AEK Larnaca)


Midfielders: 

Juvenal Edjogo 
(Santa Coloma)

Viera Ellong Doualla 
(The Panthers)

Pablo Ganet 
(UD Sanse)

Charly Martin 
(College Europa)

Emilio Nsue 
(Middlesbrough)

Randy 
(Iraklis)

Ivan Zarandono 
(Rangers FC)


Forwards: 

Javier Balboa 
(Estoril)

Ruben Belima 
(Real Madrid B)

Ivan Bolado 
(Pune City)

Raul Fabiani 
(Olimpic Xativa)

Kike 
(Mallorca B)

Ruben Dario 
(Leones Vegetarianos)

Ivan Salvador 
(Valencia B)

 

9 Jan 2015
(BBC Sport UK)

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