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

NATIONAL TEAM - SENEGAL - SQUAD - World Cup qualifier against Cape Verde

Moussa Sow 

 
Senegal coach Aliou Cisse has recalled striker Moussa Sow for the 2018 World Cup qualifier at home to Cape Verde on 8 October, after an 18-month absence.

The 30-year old, who last played for the Teranga Lions in a friendly against Ghana in March 2015, has impressed since re-joining Turkish giants Fenerbahce last month.

"Moussa Sow has earned a recall because he made a big decision to return to elite football from the United Arab Emirates," Cisse told local media in Senegal.

But there is no place in Cisse's 24-man squad for the experienced forward trio of Mame Biram Diouf, Henri Saivet and China-based Papiss Cisse.

Under-23 midfielder Ismaïla Sarr, 18, has been rewarded for his impressive form with French side Metz and given a chance to establish himself in his country's senior squad.

Attention will also focus on Idrissa Gana Gueye, who has produced high-class performances for Premier League side Everton since joining from relegated Aston Villa in early August.

The West Africans are enjoying a brilliant run on the continent after emerging as the only team to win all their games in the 2017 African Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Senegal, who were quarterfinalists at their only World Cup finals appearance in 2002, are in Group D alongside South Africa, Burkina Faso and Cape Verde in qualification for the 2018 World Cup.

There are five groups of four teams with only the winners of each group making it to the tournament in Russia.

Senegal squad:

Goalkeepers: 

Abdoulaye Diallo 
(Rizespor, Turkey)

Khadim Ndiaye 
(Horoya)

Pape Seydou Ndiaye 
(ASC Niary Tally)


Defenders: 

Lamine Gassama 
(Alanyaspor, Turkey)

Diawandou Diagne 
(Eupen, Belgium)

Kara Mbodji 
(Anderlecht, Belgium)

Zargo Touré 
(Lorient, France)

Kalidou Koulibaly 
(Napoli, Italy)

Fallou Diagne 
(Werder Bremen, Germany)

Saliou Ciss 
(Valenciennes, France)


Midfielders: 

Ibrahima Mbaye 
(Bologna, Italy)

Idrissa Gana Gueye 
(Everton, England)

Cheikh Ndoye 
(Angers, France)

Cheikhou Kouyaté 
(West Ham, England)
 
Pape Kouly Diop 
(Espanyol, Spain)

Pape Alioune Ndiaye 
(Osmanlispor, Turkey)

Younousse Sankharé 
(Lille, France)

Mohamed Diame 
(Newcastle, England)

Ismaïla Sarr 
(Metz, France)


Forwards: 

Famara Diedhiou 
(Angers, France)

Moussa Sow 
(Fenerbahe, Turkey) 

Moussa Konaté 
(FC Sion, Switzerland)

Sadio Mané 
(Liverpool, England)

Keita Baldé Diao 
(Lazio, Italy)

 

 

26 Sep 2016
(BBC Sport by Oluwashina Okeleji)

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