Nigerian youth star Simon off to a flyer

Nigeria youth international Moses 'Daddy' Ajala Simon has got off to a great start in the new Corgon Liga season as he helped his Slovakian team AS Trecin beat Dunajská Streda 2-1 on the opening day of the new season.
The diminutive winger, who has been on the radar of a host of European clubs, was on target in the 32nd minute of the game at the Štadión na Sihoti in Trecin before Peter Klešcík made it 2-0 to Trecin. An 88th minute consolation for Dunajská Streda scored by Jakub Brašen was not enough as Trecin began the season on a high.
Simon has started off where he left from last season after scoring seven goals in 14 games for Trecin, a laudable feat considering he joined the team in the second half of the season.
The former Ajax Amsterdam trainee, who was part of the Flying Eagles to the 2013 Under-20 World Cup in Turkey, told supersport.com that he hopes to build on the success of last season and help Trecin do well in the Europa League.
"I'm really ecstatic about my goal in the first game of the 2014/15 season, but most importantly that we won the game and our first three points.
"I'm getting more settled here and enjoying my football. I hope we can do well in the league and in Europe too. I'll also love to surpass my records from last season," he told supersport.com.
AS Trecin finished second on the Corgon Liga log with Simon contributing seven goals and seven assists in 14 matches, as the team went into the qualifying rounds of the Europa League.

Arsenal conclude Debuchy deal

Arsenal completed their swoop for France defender Mathieu Debuchy from Newcastle United on Thursday in a deal reported to be worth around €15 million. Debuchy has been a long-term target for Arsene Wenger and the Gunners' manager finally got his man as the right-back put pen to paper on a long-term contract. The 28-year-old, who was part of the French squad which reached the World Cup quarterfinals, is the ideal replacement for compatriot Bacary Sagna, who left Arsenal to join Premier League Manchester City on a free transfer last month. Debuchy, who is reported to have cost the Gunners around £12 million, becomes Arsenal's second signing since the end of last season following the £30 million arrival of Chile winger Alexis Sanchez from Barcelona. "We are delighted to welcome Mathieu Debuchy to Arsenal," Wenger told the club's website. "He has shown he can perform at the highest level with his club sides and also for France. "He is a quality defender who has good Premier League experience and I'm confident he will fit in very well with us." Debuchy featured 46 times during an 18-month spell at Newcastle after spending the first nine years of his career with French side Lille. He helped Lille to a league and cup double in 2010-11. His performances also earned him his international debut against Albania in October 2011 and he now has 25 caps for France. Debuchy will join up with his new teammates soon for pre-season preparations and is expected to make his debut at the Emirates Cup in the first weekend of August. He admitted playing in the Champions League was a major incentive to join Arsenal. "I'm very proud to be joining a great club like Arsenal and to wear its colours, it's one of the biggest clubs in the whole world," Debuchy said. "I'm looking forward to working with Arsene Wenger and to helping the team build on last season's FA Cup success. "Playing again in the Champions League is a big excitement for me and I will do my best to help Arsenal compete for trophies."

Uefa bans Simeone, Real’s Alonso

European football's governing body Uefa on Thursday banned Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone and Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso for one match for disciplinary offences during the   Champions League final in May.

Simeone was hit with the penalty for having charged onto the pitch at the end of the match during a verbal clash with Real's French defender Raphael Varane.

He will be banned from the bench for Atletico's next European match, which will come at the beginning of the 2014-15 Champions League group stage in September.

Real beat their arch-rivals 4-1 after extra time in the May 24 final in Lisbon, and Uefa opened a disciplinary probe in the wake of the game.

Xabi Alonso was sanctioned for misconduct, and will serve his suspension during the Uefa Super Cup final between Madrid and Europa League winners Sevilla on August 12 in Cardiff, Uefa said.

In addition, Atletico and Real were each fined for improper team conduct – a penalty faced by teams who receive five or more cards during matches.

Real picked up five, thereby receiving a fine of €18 000, while Atletico's seven cards led to a penalty of €21 000.

The fines also sanctioned the behaviour of both clubs' fans, who set off fireworks in the stadium.

Argentina defend Latin pride v Germany

Germany battle to become the first European side to win a World Cup on Latin American soil in Sunday's final against Argentina whose captain Lionel Messi is out to emulate the great Diego Maradona.
Germany are favourites after their ruthlessly efficient 7-1 demolition of hosts Brazil in the semifinal.
Yet in Messi, Argentina have one of the world's greatest current players who can turn a big game in a flash and would dearly love to bring home the World Cup for the first time since 1986 when the team was captained by Maradona.
In a mortifying twist for Brazilians whose rivalry with their South American neighbours runs deep, some 100 000 Argentines have invaded Rio de Janeiro for the final.
Some have paid $10 000 for an airline and hotel package, while others drove the 2 000 kilometres from Buenos Aires.
Argentine flags, tents and cars were dotted all around the famous Copacabana and Ipanema beaches in Rio. Many climbed up to the Christ statue, draping blue-and-white colours at the bottom.
Brazilian fans have largely thrown their lot in with Germany, hoping they can stop an Argentine win that would give them bragging rights for years. Some locals, with tickets to a game where they had dreamed of seeing Brazil lift a sixth World Cup, were instead donning Germany colours for the occasion.
"We have forgiven Germany what they did to us. In fact, we admire them because they played theBrazil way," said Rio resident Bruno Perreira, outside the 74 738-capacity Maracana wearing a Germany replica top and joking with Argentina fans.
THIRD GERMANY V ARGENTINA FINAL
It is the third World Cup final between Germany and Argentina. Argentina won 3-2 in a 1986 thriller in Mexico City, while Germany won 1-0 four years later in Rome in an awful game.
And the history does not stop there: Germany have kicked Argentina out of the last two World Cups in the quarterfinals, humiliatingly so by a 4-0 scoreline in 2010 when they cruelly exposed then coach Maradona's tactical naivety.
After an exciting tournament where attack has prevailed and goals have been flowing, the final is likely to be a more cagey affair with Germany employing numbers to annul Messi and Argentina wary of leaving the sorts of spaces that Brazil did.
Both goalkeepers, Manuel Neuer of Germany and Sergio Romero of Argentina, are in the form of their lives, while Messi, on four goals, and Thomas Mueller, on five, are both chasing the "Golden Boot" award for the leading scorer.
Colombia's James Rodriguez is ahead at the moment on six goals. All three are also among the 10 players short-listed for Fifa's "Golden Ball" award to the tournament's best player.
The prizes are to be announced after Sunday's final.
A goal-laden tournament has already produce 170 goals and could beat the all-time record of 171 set in France in 1998.
Brazil's agony at losing the semifinal so disastrously was compounded by another poor defensive display in Saturday's 3-0 defeat by the Netherlands in the third-place playoff match.
Having not lost a competitive home game since 1975, Brazil have now suffered two defeats in five days: a sad end to a tournament they entered with such confidence and high hopes.
An Argentina win on Sunday would complete their misery

word cup Third place

 Third place play-off July 12
20:00     Brazil     ? - ?     Netherlands
   
half-time
   
(? - ?)
   

Michael Babatunde could be playing his football in England next season

 Nigeria international midfielder, Michael Babatunde could be playing his football in England next season after English Premier League club, Sunderland expressed their interest.

Babatunde made impressive inroads with Nigeria’s Super Eagles at the 2014 Fifa World Cup where he played in two matches.

A broken arm in the game against Argentina subsequently ruled him out of Nigeria’s round of 16 clash with France but not before he suitably impressed representatives of the Premier League club.

Babatunde, who plays his club football in Ukraine with Volyn Lutsk, was quoted by authoritative British newspaper, the Daily Mail saying Sunderland have expressed interest in his services.

“I have received several offers from different places, but I'm interested in the one from Sunderland.

“They have contacted my agent, and we will see how it goes from there,” he said.

The 21-year-old also spoke about interest from clubs in Turkey as he looks set to reap from an impressive World Cup debut.

“There are about two offers from clubs in Turkey as well, which are both under consideration and will be discussed at the right time,” he said.

Babatunde scored twice in 23 league appearances for Volyn in the 2013/14 season.

Sanchez completes Arsenal move

 Arsenal have completed the signing of Barcelona striker Alexis Sanchez, the Premier League club said on Thursday.

No price was disclosed for the 25-year-old Chile international although media reports put the fee in the region of 35 million pounds ($59.56 million).

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has stepped down

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has stepped down from his post after the country's elimination from the World Cup, Fifa said on Tuesday.
The Nigerian Football Federation have yet to confirm his resignation, however, and Keshi was evasive in answering a question on his future after Monday's 2-0 loss to France in their last-16 round encounter in Brasilia.
Fifa.com quoted a tweet from Keshi, although earlier in the tournament Nigerian officials claimed the manager had no social media presence.
"Friends, it has been a good run and I have enjoyed every moment. It's been an honour coaching the Super Eagles. It is however time to bow out," the tweet said.
Asked what he planned to do after the World Cup, after being linked to the national team job in South Africa, Keshi told reporters on Monday: "I'm going home to visit my wife and kids. I've not seen them for a long time."
The 52-year-old, whose nickname is "Big Boss", coached the Super Eagles to last year's African Nations Cup crown. He had been in charge of the side since late 2011 after several previous stints as assistant.
Keshi was the captain of Nigeria for their maiden World Cup appearance in the United States in 1994 and also worked as national coach of Togo and Mali in the past.

Nigeria's football federation were voted out of office

 Nigeria's football federation were voted out of office on Saturday after being accused of botching up the country's World Cup campaign but it is unlikely Fifa will recognise the hastily-arranged elections as anything more than a coup d'etat.

An extraordinary general assembly of the federation went ahead in Abuja on Saturday despite Fifa's warning of a possible suspension for the African nation if it did not restore the old leadership to power.

A regional high court had earlier this week ordered the dismissal of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) executive, just over a day after the Super Eagles were eliminated from the World Cup by France in the last-16 on Monday.

The court also mandated the sports minister to appoint a caretaker administrator, who swiftly called new elections.

NFF president Aminu Maigari was also detained by police on Friday on his arrival back from Brazil but later released.

Fifa said on Friday that if the NFF leadership were not restored to their posts by next Tuesday the country could be suspended from all international football activities.

It warned against outside interference in the running of its member associations.

But Saturday's assembly endorsed the sacking of Maigari and his executive and the termination of the employment of all management staff at the NFF.

"The Congress bemoaned the unfortunate incident of the international embarrassment caused by failure of the Aminu Maigari-led NFF to fully and firmly resolve issues of finance with the Super Eagles ahead of the championship," a statement obtained by Reuters said afterwards.

Nigerian players were involved in strike action after winning through their opening round group to the last 16 at the World Cup in Brazil but resumed training after Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan had spoken to several senior players by telephone and assured them their bonus money would be paid.

There is no clarity about who or why the court order seeking the dismantling of the NFF was brought but the swiftness of the injunction, the call for new elections and the assembling of the NFF electorate suggested a well orchestrated putsch.

African governments for decades dictated the leadership of their individual football associations until Fifa brought in the sanction of suspension for those interfering.

Drastic changes like those affected by Nigeria are now rare but fellow World Cup finalists Cameroon are being run by a 'normalisation committee' after their old executive was drummed out of office and their federation president jailed on fraud charges.

scan on Sunday confirms Argentina midfielder Angel Di Maria is out of the World Cup

 If a scan on Sunday confirms Argentina midfielder Angel Di Maria is out of the World Cup it would be a significant blow to the South Americans' hopes of winning the tournament for the third time.

Di Maria had to be replaced by Enzo Perez after half an hour of Saturday's 1-0 quarterfinal victory over Belgium, which set up a last-four clash against the Netherlands, when he damaged a muscle in his right thigh shooting on goal.

Media in his native country and in Spain, where he plays for Real Madrid, reported the 26-year-old would play no further part in the finals in Brazil, although there was no immediate confirmation from the Argentine soccer federation (AFE).

"Tests will be made today to assess the extent of the injury," the AFE said on their website on Sunday.

Nicknamed "Fideo" (Noodle) due to his slight frame, Di Maria is Argentina's most creative player after captain Lionel Messi.

His electric pace can carry him past and away from opponents, he links up well with Messi and the other forwards and he has an eye for goal as he proved when he netted the winner in the 1-0 win over Switzerland in the last 16.

"He's vital, almost irreplaceable," coach Alejandro Sabella said before the World Cup.

Should he be ruled out, Sabella will have to rely on Di Maria's replacement in the starting line-up to help unlock a well-drilled Dutch defence in Sao Paulo on Wednesday.

He will also be hoping forward Sergio Aguero, who has missed Argentina's last two matches through injury, is fit enough to make an appearance.

One obvious bright spot for Sabella is the return to goal-scoring form of striker Gonzalo Higuain, whose superb strike against Belgium put Argentina through to the semifinals for the first time since 1990.

It was Higuain's first goal in five appearances at this World Cup and his fifth overall at soccer's global showpiece after he netted four in South Africa four years ago.

"I wasn't getting desperate about scoring because I knew I was going to get a goal sooner or later," Higuain, who ended a six-match scoring drought in Brasilia, told reporters.

"Obviously I'm very happy, especially with this being such a historically important win for Argentina," he added.

"They've been asking me since day one when the goal was going to come and I've always given them the same answer: I'm working on it."

soccer news

Fifa has asked German magazine Der Spiegel to hand over all the documents it says it has regarding the claims of convicted match-fixer Wilson Raj Perumal that Cameroon players threw their World Cup group games.
Fifa has refused to make any comment regarding the allegations that some Cameroon players fixed the results of their three Group A matches, which all ended in defeat, nor would it confirm or deny it was investigating the claims.
Ralf Mutschke, Fifa's head of security, cast doubt on Perumal's claims on Wednesday and said the ruling body wanted to see what proof Der Spiegel had.
"Fifa has substantial doubts about the allegations published by Der Spiegel," he said in a statement.
"As such Fifa has asked Der Spiegel to provide us with all the communications with Perumal and any other material they claim to possess in order to prove the allegations they have made in public.
"This article has put the integrity of the Fifa World Cup matches in question which is a serious allegation.
"We have carefully monitored all 56 games to date and we will continue to monitor the remaining eight matches. So far we have found no indication of any manipulation on the betting market of any World Cup matches."

news

 Germany must improve in both defence and attack if they are to overcome France in Friday's World Cup quarterfinal, say former captains Oliver Kahn and Lothar Matthaeus.

"The mixture is not ideal at the moment," said Kahn, who captained Germany to their 2002 World Cup final defeat to Brazil.

"There needs to be a better balance between the forwards and the creative players like Mesut Ozil.

"When you invest too much in attack, looking to find combinations and players in space, you don't always get into good scoring positions."

Matthaeus, who holds the record of 25 World Cup appearances, said Germany's problems begin in defence as centre-backs Benedikt Hoewedes and Jerome Boateng have been used mainly as wing backs at the World Cup.

"If you play in an unfamiliar position, you lack rhythm and can't produce a top performance. That was a big problem against Algeria," said the 53-year-old, who won the trophy in 1990.

Germany needed late goals from Andre Schuerrle and Ozil to edge a 2-1 extra-time win over Algeria in Porto Alegre on Monday and book their date against France at Rio de Janeiro's Maracana stadium.

But Kahn says the poor performance against Algeria could act as a catalyst with Germany chasing a fourth World Cup title.

"Sometimes such a negative match in the last 16 can have a healing effect for the next matches," said the 45-year-old.

soccer scores

Round of last 16 June 29
live 78'     Costa Rica     1 - 0     Greece 
    half-time   
(0 - 0)
    referee :     spectators :
    Benjamin Jon Williams (Australia)     41,242
match details :
36'    
        Andreas Samaris42'    
Oscar Duarte
        48'    
Yeltsin Tejeda
        52'    
Bryan Ruiz
    1 - 0    
57'    
Esteban Granados
        66'    
Oscar Duarte
       
70'    
Bryan Ruiz
        72'    
        Konstantinos Manolas
statistics :
shots on target :     1 - 3    
shots off target :     2 - 7    
possession (%) :     51 - 49    
corner kicks :     2 - 4    
offsides :     0 - 7    
fouls :     15 - 10    
yellow cards :     4 - 2    
red cards :     1 - 0    
line-ups :
[ 4-3-1-2 ]     [ 4-2-3-1 ]
    Sergio Romero         Diego Benaglio
    Pablo Zabaleta         Ricardo Rodriguez
    Ezequiel Garay         Johan Djourou
    Federico Fernandez         Stephan Lichtsteiner
105'     Marcos Rojo         Fabian Schaer
    Lionel Messi         Xherdan Shaqiri
    Angel Di Maria         Valon Behrami
106'     Fernando Gago         Gokhan Inler
    Javier Mascherano     113'     Admir Mehmedi
    Gonzalo Higuain     66'     Granit Xhaka
74'     Ezequiel Lavezzi     82'     Josip Drmic
substitutions :
74'     Rodrigo Palacio     66'     Gelson Fernandes
105'     Jose Maria Basanta     82'     Haris Seferovic
106'     Lucas Biglia     113'     Blerim Dzemaili
coach :
    Alejandro Sabella         Ottmar Hitzfeld

soccer scoers

Round of last 16 Arena de Sao Paulo July 1
live HT     Argentina     0 - 0     Switzerland
    half-time
    (0 - 0)
    referee :    
    Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)    
match details :
36'    
       Granit Xhaka
statistics :
shots on target :     2 - 3    
shots off target :     1 - 1    
possession (%) :     60 - 40    
corner kicks :     1 - 4    
offsides :     1 - 0    
fouls :     7 - 13    
yellow cards :     0 - 1    
red cards :     0 - 0    
[     Teams    |     Fixtures    |     Commentaries    |     X    ]
line-ups :
[ 4-3-1-2 ]     [ 4-2-3-1 ]
    Sergio Romero         Diego Benaglio
    Pablo Zabaleta         Ricardo Rodriguez
    Ezequiel Garay         Johan Djourou
    Federico Fernandez         Stephan Lichtsteiner
    Marcos Rojo         Fabian Schaer
    Lionel Messi         Xherdan Shaqiri
    Angel Di Maria         Valon Behrami
    Fernando Gago         Gokhan Inler
    Javier Mascherano         Admir Mehmedi
    Gonzalo Higuain         Granit Xhaka
    Ezequiel Lavezzi         Josip Drmic
coach :
    Alejandro Sabella         Ottmar Hitzfeld
Round of last 16 Arena Fonte Nova July 1
21:00     Belgium     ? - ?     USA
    half-time
    (? - ?)   
referee :    
    Djamel Haimoudi (Algeria)    
[     Teams    |     Fixtures    |     X    ]
      R16     June 28     17:00     Brazil * vs Chile     1 - 1
      R16     June 28     21:00     Colombia vs Uruguay     2 - 0
      R16     June 29     17:00     Netherlands vs Mexico     2 - 1
      R16     June 29     21:00     Costa Rica * vs Greece     1 - 1
      R16     June 30     17:00     France vs Nigeria     2 - 0
      R16     June 30     21:00     Germany vs Algeria     2 - 1
live     R16     July 1     17:00     Argentina vs Switzerland     0 - 0
      R16     July 1     21:00     Belgium vs USA     ? - ?
      R16     Round of last 16

soccer scores

live 50'     Argentina     0 - 0     Switzerland
    half-time
    (0 - 0)
    referee :    
    Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)    
match details :
36'    
       Granit Xhaka
statistics :
shots on target :     2 - 3    
shots off target :     2 - 1    
possession (%) :     60 - 40    
corner kicks :     3 - 4    
offsides :     1 - 0    
fouls :     8 - 15    
yellow cards :     0 - 1    
red cards :     0 - 0    
[     Teams    |     Fixtures    |     Commentaries    |     X    ]
line-ups :
[ 4-3-1-2 ]     [ 4-2-3-1 ]
    Sergio Romero         Diego Benaglio
    Pablo Zabaleta         Ricardo Rodriguez
    Ezequiel Garay         Johan Djourou
    Federico Fernandez         Stephan Lichtsteiner
    Marcos Rojo         Fabian Schaer
    Lionel Messi         Xherdan Shaqiri
    Angel Di Maria         Valon Behrami
    Fernando Gago         Gokhan Inler
    Javier Mascherano         Admir Mehmedi
    Gonzalo Higuain         Granit Xhaka
    Ezequiel Lavezzi         Josip Drmic
coach :
    Alejandro Sabella         Ottmar Hitzfeld
Round of last 16 Arena Fonte Nova July 1
21:00     Belgium     ? - ?     USA
    half-time   
(? - ?)
    referee :    
    Djamel Haimoudi (Algeria)    
[     Teams    |     Fixtures    |     X    ]
      R16     June 28     17:00     Brazil * vs Chile     1 - 1
      R16     June 28     21:00     Colombia vs Uruguay     2 - 0
      R16     June 29     17:00     Netherlands vs Mexico     2 - 1
      R16     June 29     21:00     Costa Rica * vs Greece     1 - 1
      R16     June 30     17:00     France vs Nigeria     2 - 0
      R16     June 30     21:00     Germany vs Algeria     2 - 1
live     R16     July 1     17:00     Argentina vs Switzerland     0 - 0
      R16     July 1     21:00     Belgium vs USA     ? - ?
      R16     Round of last 16