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 - USA/Liberia - Timothy Weah - Celtic secure 'hungry' PSG forward on six-month loan

Timothy WeahEmbed from Getty Images

 

Striker Timothy Weah will add "pace and technique" to Celtic after completing a six-month loan from Paris St-Germain, says manager Brendan Rodgers.
 
The 18-year-old United States forward's deal was confirmed after he arrived in Dubai to join Celtic's training camp during their winter break.
 
Weah - son of Ballon d'Or winner and President of Liberia, George - has made three appearances for PSG this season.
 
"With their quality, it's difficult for him to get in," Rodgers said.
 
"They wanted him to go out on loan and saw Celtic as a great possibility."
 
Weah's move came as he signed a one-year contract extension until 2021 with the French champions, who have stressed that there is no option for Celtic to make the move permanent.
 
He scored twice in those three PSG outings earlier in the season, the most recent coming in August. He has also netted once in eight appearances for USA, where he was born.
 
"Timothy's a young talent," Rodgers told Celtic View.
 
"He has a long career ahead of him, but he has those natural attributes in terms of his pace and technique. He's hungry too.
 
"He has really good qualities technically and tactically, is always improving his game.
 
Physically he's very good, very fast and is a strong player. He'll add competition to the squad."
 
Rodgers was looking to bolster his attack with Scotland international Leigh Griffiths being given time away from football because of mental health issues.
 
Weah's arrival closely followed that of West Bromwich Albion winger Oliver Burke, who has also joined the Scottish champions on loan for the rest of the season.
 
Rodgers' side return to action after their winter break with a Scottish Cup fourth-round tie against Airdrieonians on 19 January.
 
 
10 Jan 2019
(afrofootball.com + BBC Sport)

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