NATIONAL TEAM - SWITZERLAND - 2014 WORLD CUP - Goodbye, Ottmar Hitzfeld. All the best and take care.

Hitzfeld has made a positive impression wherever he has been stationed and his name is still regularly chanted in the stands at Bayern Munich.

“He put together a really good team that will last for many years to come,” Granit Xhaka told FIFA.com, before Josip Drmic added: “He’s done a great job.” 

2 Jul 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - DAY 19 - LAST SIXTEEN - ARGENTINA VS SWITZERLAND 1:0

LAST SIXTEEN
1st July 2014

Argentina vs Switzerland 1:0

1 Jul 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - DAY 19 - LAST SIXTEEN - BELGIUM VS USA 2:1

LAST SIXTEEN
1st July 2014

Belgium vs USA 2:1

1 Jul 2014
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

NATIONAL TEAMS - FRIENDLIES - all results

WEDNESDAY'S RESULTS

• Botswana vs Lesotho 2:0 
• Gabon vs Mali 4:3 
• Indonesia vs Cameroon 0:1 
• Mauritius vs Burundi 2:2 
• Nigeria vs Uganda 0:1 
• Swaziland vs South Africa 1:3 

THURSDAY'S FRIENDLIES

• Egypt vs Equatorial Guinea 1:0
• Ivory Coast vs Angola 2:0
• Qatar vs Algeria 1:0

FRIDAY'S RESULTS

•​ Gambia vs Mauritania 1:0
• Japan vs Algeria 2:0

SATURDAY'S RESULTS

Iraq vs DRC 2:1
Uruguay vs Morocco 1:0
Mauritius vs Togo 1:1
• Senegal vs Ghana 2:1

SUNDAY'S RESULTS

South Africa vs Nigeria 1:1 
Tanzania vs Malawi 1:1 
Zambia vs Rwanda 2:0
Botswana vs Mozambique 1:2
Ivory Coast vs Equatorial Guinea 1:1


Bongani Zungu scored in stoppage time to salvage a 1:1 draw for South Africa against Nigeria and Konate brace gives Senegal victory over Ghana in friendly

Moussa Konate scored twice after coming on as a second-half substitute to lead Senegal to a 2:1 triumph over Ghana in a friendly on Saturday.

The Swiss-based striker was on target in the 67th minute, having replaced the recalled Demba Ba who had struck the post after only six minutes of his comeback.

Konate took a long clearance out of defence on his chest and volleyed home from the edge of the penalty area for his first goal.

A quick counter attack then saw Sadio Mane set him up for a second goal nine minutes later.

Richmond Boakye pulled one back for Ghana with eight minutes remaining but Senegal held out for victory in their first game under new coach Aliou Cisse.

Konate brought his impressive club form to the Stade Oceane in the northern city of Le Havre having scored 11 goals in 17 appearances for Sion this season.

It was another defeat for Ghana at the hands of Senegal. 

The Teranga Lions also beat the Black Stars 2:1 at the Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea in January but Ghana went on reach the final while their neighbours went out in the first round.

An impressive Ahmed Musa goal on 85 minutes had put the Super Eagles ahead in front of a 20,000 crowd at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.

South Africa squandered a great chance to take the lead midway through the second half when a casually-struck Andile Jali penalty was blocked by Daniel Akpeyi.

Late goal from Zungu earns South Africa draw against Nigeria

Also on Sunday, Honour Janza guided his Zambia team to a 2:0 win over Rwanda in Lusaka, just a day after it was confirmed that the Zambia FA (Faz) would be replacing Janza with a foreign coach.

Goals from Rainford Kalaba and Allan Mukuka were enough to give Zambia a victory in what could possibly have been Janza's final match in charge.

Elsewhere, Tanzania came from behind to draw 1:1 with Malawi as Mbwana Samata cancelled out a 12th minute goal from Mhone.

And Mozambique were 2:1 winners away to Botswana.

The African champions Ivory Coast were due to host Equatorial Guinea in a late kick off in Abidjan. 

The Ivory Coast FA were planning to pay tribute to their two Nations Cup winning stars Kolo Toure and Boubacar Barry who have both retired from international football.

On Saturday Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani converted an early second-half penalty to give Uruguay a 1:0 victory over Morocco in Agadir.

Morocco were playing their first international of the year after having been stripped of the right to host the African Nations Cup at the start of 2015.

Democratic Republic of Congo, who finished third behind Ivory Coast and Ghana at the Nations Cup, lost 2:1 to Iraq in Dubai.

Paul Jose Mpoku equalised from a penalty midway through the opening half. UAE-based footballers, Ahmad Ibrahim Khalaf and Humam Tariq scored for Iraq.

Mauritius and Togo drew 1:1 in Bellevue.

Andy Sophie put Mauritius ahead during the first half and Jonathan Ayite levelled eight minutes from time.

The result left former France star and Togo coach Didier Six still seeking his first win in charge of the Mauritians after a midweek friendly against Burundi was also drawn.

On Friday, The Gambia marked their return to international football with a 1:0 win over Mauritania in Banjul. Ebou Kanteh with a 23rd minute goal.

And Japan beat Africa's top ranked side Algeria 2:0 in Tokyo.

 

 

30 Mar 2015
(BBC Sport UK)

Related countries

Related articles