World Cup star, James Rodriguez joins Real Madrid

One of the World Cup's most exciting players has joined Real Madrid.

James Rodriguez -- Colombia's star man at Brazil 2014 and winner of the Golden Boot -- penned a six-year contract with the reigning European champion after his transfer from Monaco was completed in a reported $121 million deal.

The 23-year-old midfielder's six goals and two assists at the World Cup had heads turning at all the big clubs, but Real was destined to get its man after Rodriguez told Spanish sports newspaper Marca that he dreamed of playing for "Los Blancos."

"It's really flattering to know that a club of Real Madrid's stature is interested in me. It'd be a dream to join the club of my dreams," Rodriguez said.

World Cup: The top 10 matches

Colombia greets its World Cup heroes

Colombia's James Rodriquez scores big

"Would I jump at the chance to go to Real? No doubt about it, my answer is a resounding yes," he added.

It was then only a matter of time before Real Madrid came knocking on Monaco's door.

Rodriguez joined Monaco last year for a fee of $60.8 million and scored 10 goals in 38 appearances as the French club finished runner-up to Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1.

Former Monaco chief executive and technical director Tor-Kristian Karlsen, who has regularly scouted players from Latin America, says Rodriguez is right up there with the world's best.

"He's possibly the best playmaker in the world at present," Karlsen told CNN in June.

Rodriguez even caught the attention of NBA star and avid football fan LeBron James.

"Man watching this Colombia game I think I have my new favorite player in the World Cup! Obviously his name help that out #Biased" LeBron tweeted.

The 10-time European champion has always aimed to buy the world's top players, and Rodriguez certainly fits the mold following his exploits at Brazil 2014, where he scored the goal of the tournament against Uruguay.

His innate ability to pick a pass and his willingness to attack with speed and control make him an exciting prospect for a Real Madrid team intent on playing a counter-attacking style of football.

After beating Atletico Madrid in the Champions League final last season, Real Madrid will want to ensure it keeps up its trophy-winning ways.

Rodriguez follows World Cup winner Toni Kroos to the Bernabeu -- the Germany midfielder was bought for a reported $34 million from Bayern Munich last week.

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World Cup 2014: As Germany Eats Up Brazil With 7-1.

This was unbelievable, brutal, astonishing, The last team to score five in a semi-final were Brazil in 1958. Germany matched that in half-an-hour. 
Tel: It seemed that Muller, having reached double figures aged only 24, could chase down Klose and Ronaldo, who shared the World Cup record of 15 goals. Klose responded. Brazil were clinically dissected, soon resembling a yellow cadaver. After 23 minutes, Kroos powered through the middle, finding Muller, who flicked the ball in to Klose. Cesar saved the striker’s first shot but Klose ruthlessly despatched the loose ball, giving him the record. For now. Don’t rule out Muller long-term.

Then came that quick-fire Kroos double in the 24th and 25th minutes. Kroos was the catalyst for the first, passing to Osil, who neatly sent Philipp Lahm overlapping down the right. Muller failed to make proper contact and the cross continued to Kroos, who thumped it left-footed past Cesar. Again, brutal. Again, hopeless defending.

Kroos was immense, adding a deserved second within a minute. Fernandinho dawdled in possession, Kroos nipped in, nicking the ball and passing slightly left to Khedira. He returned the ball to Kroos, who again was not picked up by Brazil’s awol defence. Kroos this time applied his right foot to proceedings with the same result. Cesar beaten.

The Germans would not ease up. No mercy. No sympathy for the hosts. They were determined to ruin the party, the guests seizing control. Mats Hummels joined in the fun, driving through from centre-half, passing to Khedira. It was so quick, so precise that even a strong defence would have laboured, let alone a rabble like Brazil’s. Ozil took up the running, passing back neatly to Khedira, who slid in German’s fifth as Dante tried vainfully to stop the raging inferno engulfing Brazil.

The second half found little respite. Fred bore the brunt of the Brazilian fans’ frustration until he was replaced by Willian. Fred was not the only target, president and players alike were castigated.“Dilma **** off; Fred **** off; Oscar **** off”, thousands chanted. After 69 minutes, Germany made it 6-0 when Lahm guided the ball to the substitute Andre Schurrle, who deepened Brazil’s misery.

So much for the joy of sechs. Germans wanted more. Schurrle made it 7-0 from a tight angle and even the Brazilian fans began applauding German brilliance, pausing briefly to acknowledge Oscar’s firm finish.

World Cup 2014: Nigeria v Argentina Update!

Nigeria, the west African country in Group F having beaten Bosnia 1-Nil after Peter Odemwingie's goal against Bosnia-Hercegovina in Cuiaba on Saturday is up against Argentina, the Lionel Messi team in Porto Alegre today Wednesday 25th 2014 with a first appearance in the last 16 since 1998 tantalizingly within the African champions' grasp.

Argentina faces criticism by the media over their poor performances so far not meeting up with expectation especially being Lionel's Messi team. According to Real Madrid forward Angel Di Maria, he said in a report that  "Obviously it hurts when you hear people saying that they don't like you, when people say different things to us," Messi, a four time World Player of the year, who turns 27 on Tuesday has this to say "We are not showing what we can do, but with a run of games I think we will get there,". 

His teammates has this to say "All the players contributed to the victory but of course we have a genius who is called Messi. Fortunately he is Argentine - everyone would like to have Messi but it is us who have him.

"Iran made life hard for us but with Messi, everything is possible."

Argentina and Nigeria have met three times in football history with Argentina gaining the upper hand but that does not deter Peter Odemingwe the Stroke City Player who said in a report that-"We have a resilient defence, a creative midfield, and with our attack line we could bring problems to any defence in the world,"

-Stay Tuned with our Latest news updates, score and result, with our live minute-by-minute match report of the World Cup Group F game at Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre on Wednesday June 25, 2014.

World Cup 2014: Nigeria v Bosnia & Herz as it happened!

Congratulations to the super Eagles as they lashed Bosnia 1-Nil. Stephen Keshi, the Nigeria Super Eagles Coach believes Luck is needed in the game when asked about the Bosnia & Herz nullified Goal, and said his team gets better with each match as its not been easy with the 3months they been here. 

Odewinge. the saving grace Scorer of the team said the wining celebration is for his baby born two weeks ago alongside with his best friend's baby in the National Team!

Preview- Tel FULL TIME: NIGERIA 1 BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA 0 Nigeria have their first World Cup win since 1994 and Bosnia are out of the World Cup. In truth they don't really deserve any more from tonight's game. It was an unspired performance and whatever chances they created were wasted by Edin Dzeko. At the back Emir Spahic looked like he was playing football for the first time and Emmanuel Emenike's dominance of the right flank led to the Nigerian goal.

90 + 2min: Dzeko hits the post!! It’s a great save from Enyeama. he brings down a high ball on the penalty spot, possibly with his hand. He spins and only has the keeper to beat but scuffs his shot and Enyeama saves with his legs. That sums up Dzeko's night.
90 min: Three minutes of stoppage time. Corner for Bosnia. Pjanic takes it, it comes back to him, he lofts another cross in and Dzeko meets it but it’s straight at Enyeama.
88 min: Free kick to Bosnia 35 yards out . A chance to loft it into the area which they may as well do because they haven’t really shown that they have any other ideas. It’s lofted in, headed clear by Yobo. Some unofficial head tennis follows before it nearly opens up for a shot from Pjanic. Instead it comes to Misimovic but his shot is poor and goes wide.
86 min: What have Bosnia got left in their locker/in the tank/up their sleeve [delete depending on which commentator you are listening to]? Not much by the looks of things. It’s Nigeria who are on the attack and Emenike wins a free kick on the corner of the area.
84 min: Great challenge from Muhamed Besic as Onazi looks to get in on the right.
83 min: Emenike is down injured. Or wasting time as it's also known.
82 min: Another chance for Nigeria – this time it’s Emenike who shoots from distance but it’s always swerving wide and Begovic has it covered anyway.
80 min: Begovic is a called into action again to beat away a long range effort from Ogenyi Onazi. Bosnia look to counter through Pjanic, an attack that’s cynically brought to a halt by Mikel who picks up a yellow card.
75 min: Bosnia are pushing now but their ideas are more Gareth Keenan than David Brent. Muhamed Besic cuts in from the left but doesn’t really catch his shot properly and Enyeama saves easily.
74 min: Ejike Uzoenyi is on for Babatunde.
72 min: Michael Babatunde is finally going to have to come off. He's already left the field but nobody is on in his place yet. Bosbia have a corner on the left, It's swung in to the edge if the six-yard box and Ibisevic has a free header but it comes off his shoulder and goes over the bar. Huge chance for Bosnia.
70 min: Casual defending from Yobo who nonchalantly nods back to his goalkeeper after Dzeko fails to connect with a cross. Fortunately for the former Everton man Enyeama is able to gather.
68 min: Babatunde is down injured and is rolled off the pitch. It's a Bosnia free kick but the delivery is really poor and it sails over everyone and out for a goal kick.
"What Nigeria need (and I'm not joking) is Shola," Says Sally. "He will hold up the ball. Calm things a little. Obviously I don't really want to see calm. But it would help Nigeria."
Well you've got it Sally. Shola 'calmness personified' Ameobi is on.
64 min: Ameobi straight into the action playing it to Emenike on the right> he shoots from a tight angle and Begovic is forced to scoop it behind. Well he’s not quite forced – nobody made him – but it would have gone in if he didn’t.
64 min: Nigeria change: Shola Ameobi on for Musa.
63 min: Safet Susic makes his final change bringing on his nephew Tino Sven Susic in place of Haris Medunjanin.
62 min: Lovely approach work from Pjanic but Dzeko can’t collect. He’s having one of those days. One of those days when he’s rubbish.
60 min: Two saves in a minute from Begovic keeps Bosnia's World Cup alive. First Babatunde fires from distance and Begovic beats it away. Then the ball richotes off Odemwingie into Emenike's path. The angle is tight but Begovic stays big and makes a vital block.
58 min: Titus Bramble would be ashamed of this performance by Emir Spahic. In fairness he may well be fouled this time by Emenike but his challenge is so weak he almost deserves it.
57 min: Another Bosnian change: Sejad Salihovic comes on for Senad Lulic.
56 min: Change for Bosnia: Vedad Ibisevic replaces Izet Hajrovic.
56 min: More good work from Emmanuel Emenike to tee-up Odemwingie whose shot is poor. Onazi's effort with the outside of his right seconds later is even worse.
54 min: Michael Babatunde crashes in a shot with his left foot from the edge of the area which Begovic beats away.
53 min: It’s not really coming off for Bosnia – first Dzeko and Hajrovic get in each other’s way when trying to get on the end of a cut back, then Musa makes a brilliant last ditch tackle to block Mujdza’s cross from the right.
52 min: A quick aside: here is how Argentine radio responded to Lionel Messi's injury time winner against Iran ...
50 min: Bosnia have a bit more urgency to their game this half, which is just as well as they’re 40 minutes away from going out of the tournament. Dzeko ties to roll Omerou on the edge of the area but the Nigeria defender stays with his man and wins the tackle.

^{Edin Dzeko - it's not going well (GETTY)}
46 min: Everything good that happens for Bosnia comes through Pjanic and it’s the Roma man who picks out Dzeko who tries the unorthodox approach of kicking it as high as possible in the air but it lands on top of the Nigerian net.
Peep! We're underway in the second half. No changes to either side at the interval.
Martin Keown is recounting the game of beach football he played in Rio earlier on. It seems he clobbered some barefooted young lad with a two-footed challenge. He seems happy with this. Well played, Martin. Well played.
HALF TIME: NIGERIA 1 BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA 0 So far so good for the Nigerians. Bosnia have had chances, and Dzeko’s goal should never have been chalked off but they, and Spahic in particular, have been very shaky at the back and Emenike has prospered. That’s where the goal came from.
45 min: One minute of stoppage time is signalled on the big board as Dzeko again shoots from distance. It's the most difficult of his four chances and it's miles wide.
44 min: Another chance for Dzeko as the half to the close. Pjanic gets by Odemwingie far too easily on the right. he pulls back for the Man City man but this time it's a poor effort and Enyeama watches it sail over the bar.
42 min: Nigeria are knocking it around like they're Brazil from 1970. If Brazil from 1970 spent most of their time playing sideways passes in their own half, that is. Needless to say Jon Obi Mikel is heavily involved.
38 min: Emmanuel Emenike is fine but Musa picks up any slack on the right firing a low effort which Begovic pushes clear at his near post and then hops up to prevent the corner.
35 min: Emmanuel Emenike is causing all kinds of havoc on the right. Real havoc. Like a guy in a Tesco Express opening packets of biscuits and throwing them all over the floor nobody knows quite how to deal with him. He picks up a knock while allows everyone - me included - to pause for a quick water break.
<noframe>Twitter: OptaFranz - 9 - Peter Odemwingie has finished <a href="https://twitter.com/search?src=hash&q=%23NGA" target="_blank">#NGA</a>'s period of nine hours without scoring from open play at <a href="https://twitter.com/search?src=hash&q=%23WorldCup" target="_blank">#WorldCup</a> tournaments. Eternity. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?src=hash&q=%23NGABIH" target="_blank">#NGABIH</a></noframe>
33 min: A chance for an equaliser from Dzeko with a flick from a straight ball over the top. He can’t make proper contact.

^{Peter Odemwingie opens the scoring (REUTERS)}
GOAL! NIGERIA 1 BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA 0 (Odemwingie 28) Don't say I didn't mark your card about world beater Peter Odenwingie. It's Emmanuel Emenike who makes it, bundling over Spahic on the right before pulling back for the Stoke man who makes no mistake from seven yards, firing low past his Stoke colleague Asmir Begovic. Bosnia are convinced Spahic was fouled but I don't think he was. in fact, I know he wasn't.
27 min: Good effort from Pjanic from the edge if the area which Enyeama makes a bit of a meal of saving. And not a very good meal.

^{An intense tactical battle is unfolding (GETTY)}
24 min: Another great pass from Pjanic to Dzeko who is onside but the angle is tighter than before and he's under pressure from Omerou and Enyeama beats his shot away for a corner. Good spell for Bosnia.
23 min: Pjanic cuts inside one, two challenges and forces a save from Enyeama.
22 min: A lovely cross from Ambrose on the right is crying out for a Keith Houchen-esque diving header but none of the Nigerian players knwo who Keith Houchen is so the cross sails out for a throw on the far side.
21 min: Dzeko has the ball in the net but the flag is up for offside. It's a terrible decision. He's miles on as he races on to Pjanic's through ball and slots past Enyeama. Really poor decision.
20 min: Shot from distance by the lively Musa. Saved by Begovic.
18 min: Mensur Mujdza does something positive this time, winning a corner on the right. It taken deep and picked up by Zvjezdan Misimovic who checks inside and curls a shot which sails over the crossbar.
15 min: What are Bosnia playing at? I'm aware I've asked this already but nobody's answered yet. Emmanuel Emenike has a shot from distance that's going well wide of the goal. Rather than let it go out of play Mensur Mujdza (I think) whacks it straight back to a Nigerian player. Nothing comes of it but get it together, lads.
14 min: Another long range effort - this time from Lazio’s Ogenyi Onazi – and it;’s saved by Begovic low to his right.
13 min: Peter Odemwingie is basically Lionel Messi, Ronaldo and Neymar rolled into one. QPR really should have let him in that time. He skips past two challenges on the right touchline and spreads it wide to Musa who is oiffside.Still, silky skills from Odemwingie.
11 min: Jon Obi Mikel shoots. Jon Obi Mikel misses. As you were.
9 min: And here come Nigeria: Emmanuel Emenike tries to pick out the scampering who is like a Jack Russell chasing a tennis ball in the park. And like a Jack Russell his first touch is rubbish and the chance disappears.
7 min: Smart effort from Muhamed Besic fdrom the right corner of the area. It sails just over the crossbar. A good start, this.
6 min: Odemwingie's free kick goes just wide of the left hand post after taking a touch off the wall. A touch the refree fails to spot as he awards a goal kick.
5 min: What's Emir Spahic playing at? Before you say football get a load of this. he passes stright to Musa who skips past Medunjanin who hauls him to the ground. A great foul, as Danny Murpphy might say but his mate put him in big trouble there. Medunjaningets a yellow. Nigeria have a free kick.
4 min: offside flag is up against Pjanic as he races onto a Dzeko through ball. It's the rigt decision but it came from a very loose attempt by Nigeria to play out from the back. Just hoof it lads. It's the way forward.
2 min: Emmanuel Emenike wins a corner on the right, which is more than he did in the entire 90 mintes against Iran. Musa takes, it's half-cleared as far as Onazi but he skews his shot high and wide.
1 min: Bosnia launch the first attack as Dzeko spins in the centre circle and lays off to the right where Mujdza is scampering forward. He tries to pick out Dzeko in the area but Yobo intercepts.
Peep! The referee, a Mr Peter O’Leary from New Zealand who I’m going to go out on a limb and guess has some Irish heritage, blows his whistle and Nigeria get the game underway.

Iran VS Nigeria:nWorld Cup Preview As Brazillians Embraced Mikel!

Nigeria and Iran share a similiar history in their World Cup tournament as they meet in today's match at 20:00 at the Arena da Baixada. Neither side has enjoyed much World Cup success. After beating Bulgaria 1-0 in their second group game in 1998, the Nigerians have had two draws and six defeats. And Iran’s 2-1 victory over the United States in Lyon 16 years ago was their sole win at a World Cup.
However, with the recent achievements by the Super Eagles, there is a level of high hopes for the Team, thanks to Stephen Keshi. He believes his team is capable even though they failed to win any of their three pr-tournament friendlies, he added if there is any lacking, then its to put in more efforts, just hard work.

“My concern is how I’m going to bring my players to understand the style of play, to bring them back into the rhythm that we are used to, because it’s a long time we were apart,” he said.

Mikel was mob when he left his hotel to the team’s bus and onto the pitch where Brazillian raced to touch him. In a Vanguard Report

He has this to say-
‘’It is my first World Cup and I am ready just like other players are ready, too. The World Cup remains the highest height of every footballer’s ambition.
I am happy to be playing here but more importantly is that we have a dream of playing for each other. We want to make something out of the World Cup. It is not about individuals. It is about a team. And I am a member of the team
Mikel: It is good to know that many expect me to lead. In this team, the coach determines what we do and we do it according to his instructions. People might not notice the roles of players but the coach knows and we do things collectively to ensure that we come out victorious.
Mikel: There is love and unity in the team. We are like a family. All the players are ready to give their best. And with these will-power, I think that we will do well because of this determination.
Mikel: Promises? I promise good outing by the team. You are aware that all teams are well prepared for the World Cup. So, no one underestimates any team. You need to work hard first and also rely on goodluck. We’ve been working hard and deserve to do well.

  Iran (Possible, 4-2-3-1): Davari; Beitashour, Hosseini, Sadeghi, Pooladi; Nekounam, Teymourian; Haddadifa, Shojaei, Dejagah; Ghoochannejhad.

Nigeria (Possible, 4-4-2): Enyeama; Ambrose, Oboabona, Omerou, Oshaniwa; Mikel, Onazi, Azeez, Moses; Odemwingie, Emenike.

Referee: Carlos Vera (Ecuador).

What's Your Predition?
Iran 0-2 Nigeria???

What is the 'vanishing spray' used in FIFA World Cup 2014?

For those unaware of how it's used, the referee will spray it on the ground around the ball and in front of the wall on free kicks to ensure that the wall doesn't encroach on the set-piece taker. And almost just as quickly as the spray is used, it's gone, leaving no lasting effect on the pitch.

You see it all the time on free kicks: Once the referee is done putting the wall in place, in unison, the wall collectively moves forward inch by inch.

That closes down the angle with which the set-piece taker can operate. Most of the time, he can't fire the ball over the wall without overshooting his intended target as a result.

In theory, vanishing spray should eliminate that problem altogether. In practice, that's an unrealistic goal. Vanishing spray should at least keep the wall more honest.

"It will assist us in getting the players back at a free kick and, in turn, that gives the attacking team a better opportunity of creating something from that set-piece," English referee Howard Webb said, per BBC Sport's Luke Reddy.

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"I no go fall una hands" -Stephen Keshi

As the days approach swiftly for the kick off of the World Cup, Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has promised not to ‘’fall the hands of Nigerians’’, as they say in local parlance which means not disappointing Nigerians at the World Cup.
Having played two friendlies – 2-2 with Scotland and a scoreless draw with Greece, Keshi may have finally realised the task that awaits him as he plays in the World Cup as coach having been denied to take Togo to the World Cup despite qualifying them. ‘’My brother, it is not an easy job’’, he admitted to Sports Vanguard before embarking on the journey to Brazil.

Stephen Okechukwu Keshi

Two games without a win, Nigerians are hissing and sighing on the chances of the Super Eagles moving beyond the second round which has been their best mark since making their debut in USA ’94.
‘These players are careful not to get injuries. Some of them wanted to impress us after announcing the list to the World Cup’’, spokesman of the Super Eagles, Ben Alaiya quoted Keshi as saying.
Keshi knows the expectations of Nigerians and his last friendly against United States of America is expected to be better than the Greece game. ‘’I know what Nigerians want and I promise not disappoint Nigerians. It was not easy selecting these final 23 players to represent Nigeria. But, I promise that these 23 are the best we have and they will make Nigeria proud in Brazil’’, he vowed.

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World Cup: Brazil City Gripped By Dengue Fever.

RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) – The Brazilian city where Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Nigeria’s John Mikel Obi will train for the World Cup is in the grip of a crippling dengue fever epidemic.

Workers in Campinas have embarked on a huge operation to eradicate mosquitos, which spread the disease, before the Portuguese and Nigerian teams arrive.

Some 32,384 people have been infected by dengue this year in the southeastern city about one hour from Sao Paulo. At least three people have died.

“It’s a record epidemic. It’s bigger than the 11,500 cases registered in all of 2007,” said Andrea Von Zuben, who coordinates the Campinas dengue control program.

Dengue is a viral infection carried by the aedes aegypti mosquito.

The fever is like chronic influenza with severe headaches, muscle and joint pain, vomiting and a rash.

Severe cases can be deadly. Three people have died of dengue this year in Campinas, women aged 27, 69 and 81. Three other deaths are being investigated to see if they were caused by the disease.

There is no cure for dengue, so prevention is the best medicine.

The World Health Organization recommends people in infected areas prevent mosquito bites with window screens, insect repellant and mosquito coils.

It also suggests covering up exposed skin — advice that may cramp Portuguese captain Ronaldo’s bare-chested style, a topic of much commentary after his pectoral-flexing goal celebration at this year’s Champions League final.

Brazil has been hit harder by dengue than any other country so far this century, with seven million cases reported between 2000 and 2013.

Von Zuben said the Campinas outbreak was being driven by a heatwave at the beginning of the year, the prevalence of a particularly virulent dengue strain and poor sanitation that leaves pools of standing water where mosquitos breed.

But she said the areas where the Nigerian and Portuguese squads will be are a mosquito-control priority for health officials.

“We put larvicides and anti-mosquito poisons at the airport, in the training centers and in the hotels, so the teams will run a much smaller risk than the local population,” she told AFP.

- Team doctors ‘concerned’ -

The authorities have been in touch with the teams’ doctors, who were “concerned,” Von Zuben said.

She said her staff had recommended insect repellant.

“We’ve been guaranteed that the situation has been identified and is under control. There shouldn’t be any reason for alarm,” said the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF).

In early May, when Portuguese coach Paulo Bento visited the training center, city officials told him three mosquito-control operations would be carried out before the team arrives on June 11.

The army has helped sanitation workers clean up 83,000 tonnes of rubbish and dozens of buildings have been sealed off and sprayed.

Campinas is not the only city facing the dengue threat.

Medical journal The Lancet Infectious Diseases recently said World Cup host cities Natal, Fortaleza and Recife in the northeast were also at risk.

Of course, infectious diseases are a two-way street.

Campinas has also launched a program to give citizens free vaccinations before World Cup fans descend on the city from Africa and Europe, where “polio and measles are still persistent,” it said.

Priority will be given to taxi and bus drivers, employees at restaurants and tourist attractions, and the staff of six major hotels.

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Sport pays tribute to Mandela

Sport's greatest icons have paid their own tributes to South Africa's first black president Nelson Mandela, who has died aged 95.

Muhammad Ali said: "His was a life filled with purpose and hope - hope for himself, his country and the world.
"He made us realise we are our brother's keeper and that our brothers come in all colours."
Pele  said Mandela was "one of the most influential people in my life. He was my hero, my friend".

Iconic former boxer Ali added: "What I will remember most about Mr Mandela is that he was a man whose heart, soul and spirit could not be contained or restrained by racial and economic injustices, metal bars or the burden of hate and revenge.

"He inspired others to reach for what appeared to be impossible and moved them to break through the barriers that held them hostage mentally, physically, socially and economically.
"He taught us forgiveness on a grand scale. His was a spirit born free, destined to soar above the rainbows. Today his spirit is soaring through the heavens. He is now forever free."
Tiger Woods,  the world's number one golfer and a 14-time major winner, said: "You will always be in my heart Mr Mandela.
"Pop [Woods' father Earl] and I felt your aura when we met, I feel it today and I will feel it forever. You have done so much for humanity."
Former England captain David Beckham  said: "My heart goes out to the people in South Africa and Mr Mandela's family. We have lost a true gentleman and a courageous human being.
"It was truly an honour to have known a man who had genuine love for so many people. Rest in peace."
Sepp Blatter, head of world football governing body Fifa, said: "It is in deep mourning that I pay my respects to an extraordinary person.
"He was probably one of the greatest humanists of our time."

Former England captain Beckham met Mandela in Johannesburg in 2003

Blatter said of Mandela's impact on football's 2010 World Cup in South Africa: "When he was honoured and cheered by the crowd at Johannesburg's Soccer City stadium on 11 July 2010, it was as a man of the people, a man of their hearts.
"It was one of the most moving moments I have ever experienced. For him, the World Cup in South Africa truly was 'a dream come true'."
He added that there would be a minute's silence as a mark of respect ahead of the next round of international matches.
The Premier League confirmed a minute's applause would be held before all of the top flight matches taking place this Saturday, Sunday and Monday and the Football Association and Football League have also asked clubs taking part in their respective competitions to have a minute's applause before their matches this weekend.
Sport had been targeted for sanctions during the country's apartheid rule, leading to bans from the Olympic Games and various World Cups, and almost complete isolation by the time Mandela was released from his 27-year prison sentence in 1990.
Mandela said "sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire, it has the power to unite people, in a way that little else does," and his African National Congress saw sport as a way to unite the nation.
South Africa were allowed to send a team to the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and enter the 1994 football World Cup qualifiers, long before the change in the political system was complete.
"The International Olympic Committee wanted Mandela in their ranks, he was an icon of the world and at the opening of the Barcelona Games they treated him like a head of state," recalled Sam Ramsamy, former South African Olympic Committee president and now an IOC member.

The image of Mandela handing the Rugby World Cup to Pienaar has become part of South African history

After he was elected president in 1994, the 1995 Rugby World Cup was the showcase for Mandela's unifying agenda in South Africa.
One of the defining sporting images of the century was to follow in the final when, after South Africa's 15-12 extra-time victory against favourites New Zealand, Springboks captain Francois Pienaar was handed the trophy by Mandela.
In that moment, racially divided South Africa came together in a way unimaginable during the years the Nobel Peace Prize winner was incarcerated for his actions in the fight against apartheid.
South Africa rugby tweeted: "Rest in Peace Nelson Mandela. We will never forget the role you played in our country, in our sport, and for that we are eternally grateful."
South African golfer Ernie Els described Mandela as "the most amazing man I ever met. He was the father of our country and our continent".
Els recalled an afternoon when he and Woods were invited for tea by the former president. "He treated us like we were his two sons," the 44-year-old said. "His sincerity was amazing and it really left a mark on both of us."

England's record goalscorer Sir Bobby Charlton said: "Mr Mandela worked tirelessly all of his life for racial equality and his legacy will live on way beyond our lifetime.

"I feel blessed to have lived during his life span and privileged to have met him on a number of occasions."
South Africa cricketers Jacques Kallis and Shaun Pollock, former captain of the South Africa football team and Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar, South Africa rugby union players Joost van der Westhuizen and Bryan Habana and British Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton were among the many sportsmen to share their appreciation of the former president.
Cricket South Africa used their official Twitter account to say: "RIP Tata Mandela. It is because of you that a represented Proteas team can express their talent across the globe."
In Adelaide, a couple of hours after the news of Mandela's death was announced, a minute's silence was observed before the start of play on day two of the second Ashes Test between Australia and England.
Both sets of players wore black armbands in tribute to Mandela.
Six-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt also paid his respects: "One of the greatest human beings ever..May your soul rest in peace..The world's greatest fighter..."



source: bbcsport

World Cup seeding: How to play the game

The Swiss on top of England - again

Many football fans will be scratching their heads to see Switzerland among the top seeds at next year's World Cup finals, while thoroughbreds like the Netherlands and Italy are not. The truth is that it could be down to the choices made by football administrators, not players.

The eyes of millions of football fans will be focused on Costa do Sauipe in the Brazilian state of Bahia next week, for the 2014 World Cup draw.
A path to glory for the 32 teams that have qualified will be determined when eight pools are created - each containing four teams that will play each other in the group stages.
Eight of the teams are seeds. They are the seven highest-ranked teams in Fifa's world rankings plus the host nation, which is Brazil. Being a seeded team has one big advantage - it means you don't have to play one of the other seeds in the group stages.
The top seven rankings when the seedings were determined in October were Spain, Germany, Argentina, Colombia, Belgium, Uruguay and Switzerland. Brazil, ranked 11th at the time, joined them.

Fifa rankings (Oct 2013)
Ranking	Country	Ranking points
1	Spain	1513
2	Germany	1311
3	Argentina	1266
4	Colombia	1178
5	Belgium	1175
6	Uruguay	1164
7	Switzerland	1138
8	Netherlands	1136
9	Italy	1136
10	England	1080

Seeing Spain, Germany, Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay among the seeds shouldn't come as a surprise given their form or footballing history - between them they've won 13 of the 19 World Cups.
How did the Swiss get seeded while the likes of the Netherlands, Italy and England missed out?
Switzerland have had a very good run of results, dominating a weak qualifying group and beating Brazil. But to understand why the Netherlands and the Italians finished just below the Swiss, you need to understand the mysteries of Fifa's ranking system.

It's based on how a team has performed in the last four years, with most of the emphasis on the most recent year. If a country wins or draws a game, it earns points but if a team loses a game, it gets nothing.
Fifa is trying to compare all the national teams and some play many more games than others so to make it fair, the rankings are based on the average number of points earned in each game.

More or Less: Behind the stats

These points are based on who the game is against, whether it is a friendly or a qualifying game and which continent the opposing teams come from, because Fifa gives more points to matches against European and South American teams.

The number of points that can be earned for winning a match can vary hugely.
For example, the Dutch victory over Brazil in the quarter-finals of the last World Cup earned the maximum number of points possible from one match. That is because the Netherlands beat the number one team in the world at the finals of the World Cup.
In Fifa ranking points that's three points for a win multiplied by 200 points for beating the world's best team multiplied by four because it was at the finals, giving a total of 2,400 points.

Ranking points earned = M x I x T x C

• M: Result of the match - win (3), draw (1) defeat (0)
• I: Importance of the match - friendly (1), World Cup qualifier or confederation-level qualifier (2.5), Confederation level or Confederations Cup match (3) and FIFA World Cup match (4)
• T: Strength of opposition - No 1 ranked team (200) down on sliding scale to 150th ranked team (50) and all teams below also 50
• C: Strength of confederation of opposition - Europe/South America (1), North and Central America, Caribbean (0.88), Asia/Africa (0.86) and Oceania (0.85)

A more typical example would be a game against an average European team like Finland or the Republic of Ireland. If the Netherlands beat such a team in a World Cup qualifier they get around 1,000 points. If they do it in a friendly, they get 400 points.

But it is possible to get a much smaller number of points for a win. If the Netherlands were to play one of the teams outside the Fifa top 150 in a friendly match, like Indonesia, they would get only a tiny amount of points - just 139.5 for a win.
Of course it makes no sense for the Netherlands to play a game against a team like Indonesia, as whatever happens it will bring down their average number of Fifa points per game. You would have to be completely mad to do something like that in World Cup year, when the points have the most value.
Unfortunately for the orange hordes of Dutch fans, that is exactly what their team did in June 2013. If they hadn't played that game they would be one of the top seeds, not Switzerland, who played fewer friendlies than most teams in the final 12 months that counted towards World Cup qualifying ranking points.

But the Netherlands are not the only team to make this mistake - on 31 May, Italy played a friendly against San Marino, a team that has only won one game in its history. It earned Italy a paltry 150 Fifa points and of course it brought down their average number of points per game, possibly costing them a top seeding.
If you reassess Fifa's October rankings without using the points gained from friendly matches, then Netherlands leap from eighth to fifth and Italy from ninth to seventh, while Switzerland would fall from seventh to ninth and Uruguay from sixth to 10th.

A world without friendly matches
	Oct 2013 rankings	Points	Without friendlies	Points	Change
1	Spain	1,513	Spain	2,127
2	Germany	1,311	Brazil	2,012
3	Argentina	1,266	Germany	1,902
4	Colombia	1,178	Argentina	1,727
5	Belgium	1,175	Netherlands	1,652
6	Uruguay	1,164	Italy	1,641
7	Switzerland	1,138	Belgium	1,590
8	Netherlands	1,136	Chile	1,577
9	Italy	1,136	Switzerland	1,471
10	England	1,080	Uruguay	1,433

The San Marino and Indonesia games illustrate the way Fifa rankings systems evaluate friendly matches. If you want to be one of the top seeds at the World Cup it is only worth playing teams in the top 20 - although these matches are harder to win.

If England had followed this rule, while others carried on playing friendlies that carried fewer ranking points, Roy Hodgson's team might now be among the top seeds.

Eduard Ranghiuc Football rankings expert

In the last 12 months, England have lost to Sweden (ranked 27th), drawn with the Republic of Ireland (67th) and beaten Scotland (33rd), but even the win against Scotland brought their average points total down.

Eduard Ranghiuc, who runs a football rankings website, has taken a keen interest in the subject. In April, the Romanian computer programmer wrote to the English FA and advised them to cancel their upcoming friendly games - or try to make these matches "unofficial" by making too many substitutes.
"It was on April 26th, I still have the email. I saw the fixtures they [the English FA] announced against Brazil and the Republic of Ireland and I realised that they were making a mistake with regards to the seeding for the World Cup. I wrote to the FA and I told them that they needed to do something about it. I said treat the friendlies very, very seriously or consider breaching one of the rules… basically making more than six substitutions."
Of course, friendly games can have an important function. They provide commercial benefits to football associations through ticket sales and TV revenue. They also provide a manager with an opportunity to experiment with fringe players and try different formations.

Italy, Netherland and England were seeded in the last World Cup

But football associations spend huge amounts of time and money to give their national teams the best chances of success - the top medical treatment, hotels to stay in, and the best nutrition while travelling in style.
Perhaps in future they will pay someone to crunch the numbers and consider whether the cons actually outweigh the benefits when it comes to playing friendly games.
How important is to be one of the top seeds? In recent years, there has only been one team that has managed to lift the trophy without being a top seed.
That team was Argentina in 1986 and they had Diego Maradona. So England, Italy and the Netherlands shouldn't give up - they just need the best player in the world and the hand of God.



source:bbcnews

World Cup 2014: The Best Starting XI of Players Who Will Not Be Going to Brazil

So with 31 spaces booked for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, it is now up to Uruguay to complete the spot remaining in their routine fixture against Jordan tonight.

However, there are those unfortunate teams who will miss out and even more disappointing is that there are world class players we will not witness on the big stage.

I've chosen a starting eleven of the players who will not be boarding the plane to Brazil in the summer.

Formation: 4-3-3

Subsitutes: Yevhen Konoplyanka, Andriy Yarmolenko, Mohamed Salah, Aleksander Kolarov, Stevan Jovetic, Jakub Blaszczykowski and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

1. Petr Cech

Chelsea's number one shot-stopper and a world class keeper. He stands at the rearguard of a decent Czech Republic team, but not the ones who possessed the likes of Nedved and Koller. A huge shame we will not witness the ever-present Cech.

2. Lukasz Piszczek

Borussia Dortmund's marauding full-back, the Pole loves to gallop forward and is great in doing so. Poland failed to get out of the group with England successfully and it's a shame we will not see this mans bursting runs forward in Brazil

3. Neven Subotic

Neven Subotic occupies the centre-back role, alongside Piszczek at right-back. He faced a race against time to be fit for Brazil but even so, it's a huge loss. A solid enforcer at the heart of Dortmund's defence, Subotic's Serbia failed to qualify for the continental event in Brazil and will feel disappointed he will not show his talents on the world stage.

4. Branislav Ivanovic

Another Serbian, alongside Subotic, it is Chelsea's ever-present Ivanovic. A valuable defender and a great professional, as witnessed in the Premier League, Ivanvoic's heroic defending will not be there for all to witness in Brazil. Chelsea fans will be fairly happy him and Cech have a good rest during the summer however.

5. David Alaba

A Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup winner, yet FC Bayern Munchen's David Alaba will not be on a plane to Brazil. The Austrian full-back, who revelled during Austria's qualifying campaign, will be disappointed to miss out as will the fans watching on.

6. Aaron Ramsey

Arsenal's hero of the season so far. Smashing in the goals left, right and centre, its a shame Ramsey operates in a slightly less-efficient Welsh side. It would have been interesting to see, had he kept his form up, how Ramsey would have fared in Brazil.

7. Arda Turan

A key architect in Atletico Madrid's midfield, Turkish playmaker, Arda Turan, is another who will not be strutting his stuff in Brazil 2014. Failed to progress with a Turkish side who seemed lacklustre in their attempts to board the plane.

8. Gareth Bale

The world's most expensive player will not be present in Brazil and it's a huge disappointment. Bale lit up the Premier League last season and it would have been fascinating to see him take on the world in Brazil, however, like Ramsey, an average Welsh side failed to progress.

10. Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Is there a point explaining why? One of the world's finest footballers, Ibrahimovic proved on Tuesday night just how unlucky he is not to be going to Brazil. Scoring the two goals in the second-leg, the PSG forward must have been cursing his luck that his goals came up against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal. A real shame we will not see this man in Brazil, genuinely.

11. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

He represents Gabon and as expected the African side failed to progress. It's another Dortmund forward who occupies the front role and it's a shame we will not see the pacey former St.Etienne striker in Brazil. Dortmund however, will be more than happy.




source:ftbpro