NATIONAL TEAM - BELGIUM - 2014 WORLD CUP - Belgium welcome attack-minded foes

“The United States came out to win the match rather than avoid defeat. We were then able to take advantage of the extra space,” confirmed Kevin De Bruyne, who opened the scoring in the third minute of extra time and put in a fine all-round performance, linking well with Eden Hazard in particular. “It was a real pleasure to play such free-flowing football,” he added.

2 Jul 2014
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

NATIONAL TEAM - NIGERIA - SQUAD - Nigeria recall Olympic star Oghenekaro Etebo

World Cup 2018 Qualifiers Oghenekaro Etebo

 

Oghenekaro Etebo scored four goals to help Nigeria clinch bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympics

Nigeria manager Gernot Rohr has named Oghenekaro Etebo in his 24-man squad for next month's 2018 World Cup qualifier against Algeria in Uyo.

Etebo, who plays for CD Feirense in Portugal, scored four goals to help Nigeria clinch bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

"I am delighted to be recalled and I hope to give my best to the country as always," Etebo told BBC Sport following his first call-up under the new national manager.

Premier League duo Victor Moses and Odion Ighalo are also included.

Chelsea's Moses is back to full fitness, and Watford striker Ighalo returns having been excused from the Zambia game to bury his father.

There are recalls for midfielder John Ogu, goalkeeper Dele Alampasu and Germany-based defender Leon Balogun.

The only uncapped player in the squad is little known defender Tyronne Ebuehi from Dutch club ADO Den Haag.

FC IfeanyiUbah goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa is the only player from the Nigeria premier league picked as the competition is on a break.

Three-time African champions Nigeria are top of Group B in their qualifying race for Russia after a hard-fought 2-1 win in Zambia.


The full squad:

Goalkeepers: 

Carl Ikeme 
(Wolverhampton Wanderers, England)

Ikechukwu Ezenwa 
(FC IfeanyiUbah)

Dele Alampasu 
(FC Cesarense, Portugal)


Defenders: 

Leon Balogun 
(FSV Mainz 05, Germany)

William Troost-Ekong 
(Haugesund FC, Norway)

Kenneth Omeruo 
(Alanyaspor FC, Turkey)

Uche Henry Agbo 
(Granada FC, Spain)

Tyronne Ebuehi 
(ADO Den Haag, The Netherlands)

Abdullahi Shehu 
(Anorthosis Famagusta, Cyprus)

Musa Muhammed 
(Istanbul Basaksehir, Turkey)

Elderson Echiejile 
(Standard Liege, Belgium)

Kingsley Madu 
(SV Zulte Waregem, Belgium)


Midfielders: 

John Mikel Obi 
(Chelsea FC, England)

Ogenyi Onazi 
(Trabzonspor FC, Turkey)

Wilfred Ndidi
(KRC Genk, Belgium)

Oghenekaro Etebo 
(CD Feirense, Portugal)

John Ogu 
(Hapoel Be'er Sheva, Israel)


Forwards: 

Ahmed Musa 
(Leicester City, England)

Kelechi Iheanacho 
(Manchester City, England)

Moses Simon 
(KAA Gent, Belgium)

Victor Moses 
(Chelsea FC, England)

Odion Ighalo 
(Watford FC, England)

Brown Ideye 
(Olympiacos FC, Greece)

Alex Iwobi 
(Arsenal FC, England)

 

1 Nov 2016
(BBC Sport, Lagos by Oluwashina Okeleji)

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