COACH - Nigeria did not renew the contract of Stephen Keshi

The 52-year-old, who became the first Nigerian to lead the side into the second round at a World Cup, is attracting the interest of other countries.

7 Jul 2014
NATIONAL TEAM - IVORY COAST - COACH - Giovanni Trapattoni in talks to become Ivory Coast boss

The Elephants are looking for a new manager after deciding not to renew the contract of French coach Sabri Lamouchi, who failed to guide the side past the group stages at the World Cup in Brazil.

6 Jul 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - DAY 21 - QUARTER FINALS - ARGENTINA VS BELGIUM 1:0

QUARTER-FINALS 
5th July 2014

Argentina vs Belgium 1:0

5 Jul 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - DAY 21 - QUARTER FINALS - NETHERLANDS VS COSTA RICA 4:3

QUARTER-FINALS
5th July 2014

Netherlands vs Costa Rica 4:3
Netherlands reached the semi-finals. Through on penalties

5 Jul 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - Brazil - win World Cup for injured star Neymar - Thiago Silva

Brazil captain Thiago Silva called on his team-mates to win the World Cup for injured star Neymar after the forward was ruled out of the tournament.

The 22-year-old scored four goals in five matches before breaking a vertebra in his spine during the quarter-final win against Colombia.

5 Jul 2014
Transfer - Cameroon - Choupo-Moting signs for Schalke from German rivals Mainz

Cameroon forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting has joined Schalke on a free transfer from Bundesliga rival Mainz.

5 Jul 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - DAY 20 - QUARTER FINALS - FRANCE VS GERMANY 0:1

QUARTER-FINALS
4th July 2014

France vs Germany 0:1

4 Jul 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - DAY 20 - QUARTER FINALS - BRAZIL VS COLOMBIA 2:1

QUARTER-FINALS
4th July 2014

Brazil vs Colombia 2:1

4 Jul 2014
NATIONAL TEAM - USA - 2014 WORLD CUP - USA look to bright future despite lost opportunity

We’ve got a few young players coming through and that gives us optimism looking ahead to the future of American football and the national team. “It was a phenomenal tournament for us,” Klinsmann continued. 

2 Jul 2014
NATIONAL TEAM - BELGIUM - 2014 WORLD CUP - Belgium welcome attack-minded foes

“The United States came out to win the match rather than avoid defeat. We were then able to take advantage of the extra space,” confirmed Kevin De Bruyne, who opened the scoring in the third minute of extra time and put in a fine all-round performance, linking well with Eden Hazard in particular. “It was a real pleasure to play such free-flowing football,” he added.

2 Jul 2014

FIFA - PORTUGAL - candidate Luis Figo wants World Cup with 48 teams

Luís Figo World Cup 2014

 

Luis Figo would consider a bigger World Cup if he is elected to replace Sepp Blater as Fifa president.

Releasing his manifesto at Wembley Stadium, the legendary Portugal midfielder said he would look at increasing the number of teams from 32 to 40 or even 48.

Figo, 42, is one of three candidates challenging Blatter in the election on 29 May.

He also proposed sin-bins and reverting to the old offside rule interpretation.

Dutch federation president Michael van Praag and Jordanian Prince Ali bin Al Hussein are also in the running to become head of football's world governing body.

Former Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter Milan winger Figo, who played at two World Cups, said on Thursday that the current format could be increased to 40 teams or Fifa could stage two 24-team competitions simultaneously on two continents, followed by a knockout phase in one nation.

He said: "Both these options are feasible with an extra three to four days of tournament play.

If this expansion were to take place I believe that additional teams should come from non-European nations.

"We not only make sure that we include more countries from across the world, but also enable Fifa to raise significant increased revenues that can be used to invest in the growth of the game globally."

Figo, the 2001 Fifa world player of the year, also proposes:

•    Spreading half of Fifa's $2.5bn revenue over four years to associations to fund grassroots football.    

•    Redistributing $1bn of Fifa's $1.5bn cash reserves to the 209 national federations. 

•    Increased use of technology in the game, using sin-bins for unsporting behaviour.    

•    Reverting back to the previous interpretation of the offside rule, "where a player is judged offside whether directly involved in the play or not".


Blatter, 78, has been Fifa boss since 1998 and said in June 2014 that he intended to run for a fifth term.

He was criticised for Fifa's handling of Michael Garcia's report into alleged corruption during the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

 

 

21 Feb 2015
(BBC Sport UK)

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