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
2014 WORLD CUP - DAY 17 - LAST SIXTEEN - NETHERLANDS VS MEXICO 2:1

LAST SIXTEEN
29th June 2014

Netherlands vs Mexico 2:1

Lucky dutchmen!

29 Jun 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - DAY 17 - LAST SIXTEEN - COSTA RICA VS GREECE 5:4 - win on penalties

LAST SIXTEEN
29th June 2014

Costa Rica vs Greece 5:4

Costa Rica through on penalties.

29 Jun 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - MEXICO - KEY PLAYER - ‪Giovani dos Santos‬ - PROFILE

Giovani dos Santos‬ was born in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Giovani joined FC Barcelona's academy of La Masia at the age of eleven and played for Barcelona's Juvenil A category where he helped his team to make a comeback in the league and win the regional title. 

This title allowed them to participate in the Youth Copa del Rey, where they faced other regional champions, among them their historic arch-rivals, Real Madrid. 

29 Jun 2014

STARS IN EUROPE - NIGERIA - CLUB - Ighalo dismisses transfer speculation

Watford F.C. Odion Ighalo

 

In-form Nigeria international striker Odion Ighalo dismisses speculation linking him with a move away from Watford.

Odion Ighalo says he is not leaving Watford

Watford striker Odion Ighalo has dismissed speculation linking him with a move away from Vicarage Road.

The Nigeria international has scored 14 Premier League goals this season and, according to the Sun, has attracted interest from Atletico Madrid.  

"I want to finish the season strongly with Watford and prove that we have a good bunch of players here," the 26-year-old told BBC Sport.

"When the focus is on a strong finish, transfer talk will not get to you."

Ighalo, who joined the Hornets from Udinese in 2014, scored more goals in English league football than any other player in 2015.

And his tally of goals in the 2015-16 Premier League is bettered only by Leicester's Jamie Vardy and Romelu Lukaku of Everton.

"I haven't really bothered myself about statistics because I've always had my feet on the ground and I never forget where I come from," Ighalo said.

"I am just focused on getting better, doing things right on the pitch and being myself on the pitch."

Ighalo's goals have helped lift Watford to ninth in the Premier League on their return to the top flight.

"Watford are doing well at the moment because we have a fantastic team and not because of one particular player," said Ighalo, who has also had spells in Norway and Spain.

The Hornets were beaten 2:1 by Tottenham last time out and host Manchester City on Saturday (17:30 GMT).

"We didn't get the result we deserved against Tottenham but we want to put that right against Man City - that's what is in front of me right now," added Ighalo.

"It's a new year in front of our fans, I want to keep scoring for my team and fight hard alongside my team-mates."

 

 

2 Jan 2016
(BBC Sport by Oluwashina Okeleji)

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