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

STARS IN EUROPE - NIGERIA - CLUB - Everton close to Henry Onyekuru

Everton FC Henry Onyekuru

 

Everton are close to signing highly rated Nigeria striker Henry Onyekuru in a £7m deal from KAS Eupen.

Onyekuru, 20, scored 22 goals for the Belgian top-flight club last season and has been linked with Arsenal, West Ham United and clubs throughout Europe.

However, the player is understood to have had a medical with Everton on Monday.

Onyekuru is expected to be loaned to Anderlecht for the next 12 months to continue his development in Belgium.

He is regarded by Everton director of football Steve Walsh and manager Ronald Koeman as one for the future.

Onyekuru made his senior debut for Nigeria in the 3:0 friendly win over Togo earlier this month.

Everton are also hoping to make a formal announcement soon on their deal for Malaga's Spain Under-21 striker Sandro Ramirez, who has also had a medical and agreed personal terms.

They will pay £5.2m for 21-year-old Sandro, the transfer fee release clause inserted into his contract when he left Barcelona last summer, but official confirmation has been delayed by his involvement in the European Under-21 Championship, where Spain face Italy in the semi-final on Tuesday.

Everton have already signed England Under-21 goalkeeper Jordan Pickford from Sunderland for £30m and Ajax captain Davy Klaassen in a £24m deal.

Toffees boss Koeman and director of football Walsh are now expected to intensify their pursuit of Burnley's £25m-rated England defender Michael Keane and Swansea City's Iceland midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson.

They are also considering a £10m for Burnley striker Andre Gray.

 

27 Jun 2017
(BBC Chief football writer by Phil McNulty)

Related countries

Related articles