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

AFRICAN CONFEDERATION CUP 2015 - 2nd round / 1st leg - all results

AFRICAN CONFEDERATION CUP 2015

 

African Confederation Cup giant-killers Royal Leopards from Swaziland claimed another victim when they defeated Congolese club AS Vita Club 1:0 in a last 16, first leg clash.

The victory for the police team follows shock successes against South Africans Wits and Angolans Petro Atletico in previous qualifying rounds.

AS Vita coach Florent Ibenge came to Somhlolo Stadium promising to "finish the job" within 90 minutes and render the return match academic.

But Leopards thought differently and a late first-half goal from Mthunzi Mkhonto gave the locals a third triumph in five African Confederation Cup games this season.

Mkhonto has been a Swazi football hero for several weeks having scored the tie-clinching round-of-32 goal against Petro in Luanda this month.

Leopard coach Sifiso Ntibane dedicated the victory over the Congolese - the 2014 African Champions League runners-up - to King Mswati III of Swaziland, who turned 47 on Sunday.

"Our victory is dedicated to the King and will serve as a gift from the team on his special day," Ntibane told Swazi media.

The overall winners advance to play-offs against the African Champions League last-16 losers and Leopards are hoping to become the first Swazi side to reach that stage.

Former African champions AS Vita Club are among the favourites to win the second-tier Confederation Cup and collect the $660,000 (610,000 euros) first prize.

Elsewhere, South African visitors Orlando Pirates conceded two goals before hitting back to force a 2:2 draw against Gabonese Mounana.

A first-half goal by Burkinabe Bassirou Ouedraogo gave the hosts a 1-0 half-time lead in the first leg in Libreville.

Former African champions Pirates were lucky to trail by only one goal at the break as goalkeeper Brighton Mhlongo made several superb saves and Mounana were foiled by the woodwork.

Leading Confederation Cup scorer this season Georges Ambourouet raised his tally to six goals by doubling the lead eight minutes into the second half via a penalty.

But Pirates demonstrated their fighting spirit and scored twice within 10 minutes through substitutes Lehlohonolo Majoro and Thabo Rakhale.

Nigeria striker Gbolahan Salami bagged a brace as Warri Wolves built an uncomfortable 2:1 lead over Congolese visitors FC MK Etancheite.

The efforts of Salami were partly undone five minutes from time when Mombo Lwamba got one back for the Kinshasa outfit, who missed a first-half penalty.

Warri are the only Nigerian survivors in the two African club competitions this season, and they will travel to the heart of central Africa knowing how strong their opponents are at home.

Etancheite also lost 2:1 away in a round-of-32 tie, but then slammed five goals past Sudanese Al Ahly Shendy at Stade Tata Raphael in the Congolese capital.

In other games, Nadir Haroub gave Tanzanians Young Africans the perfect start against Tunisians Etoile du Sahel by converting a second-minute penalty, but they had to settle for a 1:1 draw in Dar es Salaam.

Mohamed Amine Ben Amor levelled a minute into the second half, making 2006 Confederation Cup winners Etoile favourites to advance after return match in early May.

Ghanaians Hearts of Oak won 2:1 at Malians Djoliba and Tunisians Club Africain drew 1:1 at Algerians ASO Chlef in other first legs.

 

 

19 Apr 2015
(BBC Sport UK)

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