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 - GHANA - CLUB - Ayew admits to being unsure on Swansea future

Swansea City Andre Ayew

 

Andre Ayew's deflected freekick was his 12th goal of the campaign for Swansea.

Swansea striker Andre Ayew says his future depends on a summer discussion with club chairman Huw Jenkins.

Ayew was heavily linked with Sunderland during the January transfer window and there have been reports of summer interest from West Ham.

The Ghana international says he is happy at Swansea after finishing as the club's top-scorer with 12 goals.

"I'm happy here. If I have to stay, fine. If I have to leave, I have to leave," he said.

Ayew scored Swansea's final goal of their Premier League campaign, finding the equaliser in their 1-1 home draw with Manchester City on Sunday.

"I think you should ask the chairman," said Ayew, who signed a four-year deal at Swansea following his free transfer from Marseille, on his future.

"What is important for me is that I keep doing my work, and in football the truth of today is not the truth of tomorrow.

"We'll see what's going to happen, we'll have a discussion and see the way forward."

Ayew would like to continue playing in English football.

Andre Ayew was voted by Swansea supporters as their newcomer of the season

"I've enjoyed the Premier League, I think it's the best league in the world," he said.

"The intensity, the determination from every team. It's a league where you enjoy every game.

"Every game is difficult, you can never say you've won it before you've played it.

"I hope to stay in the Premier League if I leave, but I'm here at the moment at Swansea."

The 26-year-old feels Swansea, who ended the season strongly to finish 12th, will improve further next term now manager Francesco Guidolin has signed a two-year contract to stay at the club.

"I think everyone has learned a lot from the season," said Ayew.

"We've had three managers, which is not easy to deal with, but we managed to cope with all the changes and stayed up.

"We now have a coach with a lot of experience who knows what he wants to do.

"I've had friends from the national team who have been coached by him, and I know what he can do."

 

 

17 May 2016
(BBC Sport UK)

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