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 - GROUP STAGE - 4TH MATCHES - all results

AFRICAN CONFEDERATION CUP 2015

 

GROUP A
08.08.15: Etoile du Sahel vs Al Ahly 1:0
10.08.15: Stade Malien vs Esperance 0:1

GROUP B
08.08.15: Orlando Pirates vs CS Sfaxien 2:0
09.08.15: AC Leopards vs Zamalek 1:0

 

Holders Al Ahly suffered their first defeat in this year's African Confederation Cup group phase, losing 1:0 away to Tunisia's Etoile du Sahel in Sousse.

Etoile went top of Group A, two points above Ahly, thanks to a controversial penalty from Youssef Mouihbi.

Egyptian TV replays showed no contact between Etoile attacker Baghdad Bounedjah and Ahly defender Mohamed Naguib in the first half penalty-area challenge.

But as Bounedjah fell, the referee pointed to the spot and striker Youssef Mouihbi sent Sherif Ekramy the wrong way to settle the match between two of the three most successful African football clubs.

The other Group A fixture on Sunday Tunisia's Esperance were leading 1:0 in Mali against Stade Malien when the match was abandoned due to bad weather.

The tie is set to resume on Monday.

Malien are also in contention for a top-two finish and a semi-finals place. They can join Ahly on seven points by winning in Bamako.

In Group B, goals from Thabo Rakhale and Menzi Masuku earned Orlando Pirates of South Africa a 2:0 victory over CS Sfaxien of Tunisia at Orlando Stadium in Soweto.

Slick passing involving Kermit Erasmus and captain Oupa Manyisa allowed rising star Rakhale to curl the ball into the top of the net after 37 minutes.

A long pass from Patrick Phungwayo enabled Masuku to sprint down the middle, hold off a challenge and slam the ball past goalkeeper Rami Jeridi.

Pirates failed to take several other scoring chances before goalkeeper Brighton Mhlongo pulled off several late saves as Sfaxien sought a consolation goal.

The South Africans would have sealed a semi-finals place if leaders Zamalek of Egypt had avoided defeat on Sunday at AC Leopards of Congo Brazzaville.

However, Zamalek fell to their first defeat of the group phase.

A goal from Tresor Mukenga in the 61st minute was enough for Leopards to inflict a 1:0 defeat on the Egyptian side.

The result throws the group wide open with two matches left to play.

Group winners and runners-up qualify for the semi-finals.

 

 

10 Aug 2015
(afrofootball_bl / BBC Sport UK)

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