NATIONAL TEAM - USA - 2014 WORLD CUP - USA look to bright future despite lost opportunity

We’ve got a few young players coming through and that gives us optimism looking ahead to the future of American football and the national team. “It was a phenomenal tournament for us,” Klinsmann continued. 

2 Jul 2014
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

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

Stars in Europe - France - UEFA - Champions-League - Keyplayer - Senny Mayulu's moment

Senny Mayulu

The Details
On 31 May 2025 in Munich, PSG won their first Champions League title with a 5:0 demolition of Inter, the biggest winning margin in a final in the history of the competition. The final goal belonged to a homegrown teenager: Senny Mayulu.

The Moment
Mayulu came off the bench late on and needed less than three minutes to make history. After linking up with Bradley Barcola, he struck from the edge of the box and blasted the ball in off the post to make it 5:0. His joyful celebration said everything about what the night meant to the academy graduate.

The Records
At 19 years and 14 days, Mayulu became the youngest Frenchman to score in a UEFA club competition final. He was the fourth teenager to score in a Champions League final, joining Patrick Kluivert, Carlos Alberto and his own teammate Désiré Doué, who scored twice that night.

The Road
Mayulu scored his first Ligue 1 goal on 19 October 2024 against Strasbourg and his first Champions League goal on 19 February 2025 in a 7:0 win over Brest. Just months later, he was on the scoresheet in the biggest game of all.

The Aftermath
The final goal turned into a springboard. Manchester City and Chelsea were reported to be interested, and PSG moved to protect their homegrown star, who has since become a first-team regular.

The Closer
One late substitution, one thunderous finish and a place in the history books. Mayulu's name is permanently attached to the night PSG conquered Europe.

 

4 Nov 2026
afrofootball

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