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

WORLD CUP 2018 QUALIFIERS - AFRICA - 2ND ROUND - 2ND LEG - ALL RESULTS

WORLD CUP 2018 QUALIFIERS
2nd round / 2nd leg
Region: Africa
Date: 11.11. - 17.11.2015

 
Second round, second leg matches

Saturday

• Gabon vs Mozambique 1:0 
(1:1 on agg. Gabon win 4:3 on penalties)

Sunday

• Uganda vs Togo 3:0
(Uganda win 4:0 on agg.)

• Zambia vs Sudan 2:0
(Zambia win 3:0 on agg.)

• DR Congo vs Burundi 2:2 
(DR Congo win 5:4 on agg.)

 Equatorial Guinea vs Morocco 1:0 
(Morocco win 2:1 on agg.)

 Guinea vs Namibia 2:0 
(Guinea win 3:0 on agg.)

Tuesday

• Rwanda vs Libya 1:3
(Libya win 4:1 on agg.)

• Tunisia vs Mauritania 2:1
(Tunisia win 4:1 on agg.)

• Cameroon vs Niger 0:0 
(Cameroon win 3:0 on agg.)

• South Africa vs Angola 1:0 
(South Africa win 4:1 on agg.)

 Congo vs Ethiopia 2:1 
(Congo win 6:4 on agg.)

• Burkina Faso vs Benin 2:0 
(Burkina Faso win 3:2 on agg.)

• Nigeria vs Swaziland 2:0 
(Nigeria win 2:0 on agg.)

• Algeria vs Tanzania 7:0 
(Algeria win 9:2 on agg.)

• Ghana vs Comoros 2:0 
(Ghana win 2:0 on agg.)

• Cape Verde vs Kenya 2:0 
(Cape Verde win 2:1 on agg.)

• Egypt vs Chad 4:0 
(Egypt win 4:1 on agg.)

• Senegal vs Madagascar 3:0 
(Senegal win 5:2 on agg.)

• Ivory Coast vs Liberia 3:0 
(Ivory Coast win 3:0 on agg.)

• Mali vs Botswana 2:0 
(Mali win 3:2 on agg.)


Nigeria scored twice at home to beat Swaziland 2:0 on aggregate and progress in Africa's qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup.

The Super Eagles were toothless in front of goal in the first leg, which ended 0:0, and needed 52 minutes of the return game to make the breakthrough.

Moses Simon fired them ahead, finally ending the resistance of a team they were expected to sweep aside.

A second goal was added by Efe Ambrose on 88 minutes before Swaziland had Phumlani Dlamini sent off when he was shown a second yellow card.

Another of the continent's heavyweights, Ghana, secured their passage in very similar fashion to Nigeria.

Having been held 0:0 to Comoros in the first leg, the Black Stars hit two goals without reply in the return match to go through 2:0 on aggregate.

Wakaso Mubarak grabbed the opener and Aston Villa's Jordan Ayew added the second late on.

And just as Swaziland ended their match with 10 men, so too did Comoros when Omar Mdahoma received a second yellow card with eight minutes remaining.

Egypt made the most of Chad's late arrival to win easily 4:0 to go through 4:1 on aggregate.

Mohamed El Neny was on target for Egypt as they easily beat Chad 4:0 in Alexandria

Chad only arrived at the Borg Al Arab stadium in 30 minutes before kick-off.

This after their flight from N'Djamena was delayed due to a row over player bonuses and then the condition of the plane they were using for the journey.

The Pharaoh's were 2:0 up inside 10 minutes with goals from Mohamed El Neny and then Abdalallah El Saied.

Portugal based Koka then headed home twice in the space of five minutes before half-time to put the game beyond doubt.

Cape Verde, fourth in the Fifa rankings for Africa, beat Kenya 2:0 to overturn a first leg loss and win 3:2 on aggregate.

Heldon Ramos, who is on loan at Portguese side Rio Ave, with both goals for the Blue Sharks.

Kenya had only arrived in Praia hours before the match after a lengthy flight from Nairobi following a delayed departure as players and the charter airline demanded to be paid before they would take off.

Mali were another side to overcome a first leg deficit winning 2:0 against visiting Botswana to make 3:2 overall.

Bordeaux's Cheick Diabate made it 2:2 on aggregate with a penalty after only 10 minutes of play Bakary Sako of Crystal Palace, gave the Eagles lead on the half hour mark.

Stoke City's Mame Biram Diouf scored in both legs for Senegal

Senegal were pushed all the way in the first leg by Madagascar but were better at home in Dakar with a 3:0 victory to make it 4:2 overall.

West Ham midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate gave the hosts the lead midway through the first-half with Moussa Konate scoring the second eight minutes after the break.

Mame Biram Diouf, who scored in the first leg, made sure of the win with eight minutes remaining.

Tunisia eased past Mauritania with a second 2:1 win, to make it 4:2 overall.

Defender Syam Ben Youssef gave the hosts the lead early in the second half before Moulaye Ahmed 'Bessam' Khalil gave Mauritania hope with an equaliser.

Substitute Saad Bguir, who plays for local club Esperance, sealed the victory for the hosts.

African champions Ivory Coast were convincing 3:0 winners over Liberia in Abidjan to complete a 4:0 aggregate win.

Striker Giovanni Sio, who plays from Rennes in France, scored twice before half-time.

While Nice midfielder Jean Michel Seri was also on target for the Elephants.

Burkina Faso overturned a first leg deficit against Benin with a 2:0 victory in Ouagadougou.

Jonathan Pitroipa was on target from the penalty spot before Chelsea's Bertrand Traore completed the comeback and send the Burkinabe through 3:2 on aggregate.

Algeria crushed 10-man Tanzania 7:0 in Blida with Porto's Yacine Brahimi scoring as early as the first minute.

Napoli's Faouzi Ghoulam then scored the first of his two goals with a superb freekick from outside the area, he also scored from the penalty spot after the break.

Tanzania had to play the whole of the second half with 10 men after Mudathir Yahya was dismissed for a second bookable offence after 41 minutes.

Moments later Riyad Mahrez, of Leicester City, made it 3:0 at half-time.

Islam Slimani, who scored the goals to secure a 2:2 draw in the first leg, grabbed another brace in the second half including a penalty.

Carl Medjani was also on the scoresheet as the Algerians won 9:2 on aggregate.

South Africa needed an own goal to earn a narrow 1:0 win over visiting Angola in Durban.

Manucho Diniz was the unfortunate player who got the last touch on a corner to give Bafana Bafana the 4:1 aggregate win.

Libya were the first team on Tuesday to book their place in the next round after a 3:1 win in Rwanda gave them a 4:1 aggregate victory.

Khumaj put the visitors ahead in the second leg to put them in control of the tie.

Rwanda's Jacques Tuyisenge made it 1:1 on the day and offered his side some hope of a comeback but Libya pulled away thanks to a brace from Mohamed Ghanudi.

And Cameroon are through, despite being held to a 0:0 draw at home to Niger. 

The Indomitable Lions secured their passage in the first leg with a 3:0 win.

Congo finally emerged victorious after a fantastic tussle with Ethiopia, the Red Devils winning their second leg 2:1 to go through 6:4 on aggregate.

Ethiopia's Getaneh Kebede scored the opening goal of the second leg to level the tie at 4:4 on aggregate.

But Francis N'Ganga nudged Congo ahead overall when he made it 1:1 on the day and Thievy Bifouma's strike sealed his side's victory.

The final group stage begins next October, the 20 second-round qualifiers will form five groups of four teams with the winners of each group booking their place at the finals in Russia.

 

 

18 Nov 2015
(BBC Sport UK)

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