NaijaBet brings you all the squad lists from the 32 teams that will be at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. [Provisional is 30-man, while the final squad announcement will be a 23-man one.] Algeria Provisional: Rais M’bolhi (CSKA Sofia), Mohamed Zemmamouche (USM Alger), Ezzdine Doukha (USM El Harrach), Mohamed Cedric (CS Constantine); Essaid Belkalem (no club), Madjid Bougherra (no club), Lyassine Cadamuro (Mallorca), Faouzi Ghoulam (Napoli), Rafik Halliche (Academica…
There was a change of pre-match routine for Atletico Madrid players on Saturday. Coach Diego Simeone had asked Paralympic skier Irene Villa to address his footballers and just hours before they went out to defend their place on top of the Spanish league she effectively delivered the team talk. Villa was 12 when she lost her legs in a terrorist attack in 1991 but overcame her circumstances to become a…
Barcelona edged their way into the Copa del Rey semi-finals with a 2-2 draw over Real Madrid. The cup holders, who were reduced to 10 men late on, lost 4-3 on aggregate in a pulsating affair. Despite Real Madrid looking the better side for the majority of the first-half, the home side grabbed the lead in the 43rd minute when Pedro coolly slotted home after an excellent Lionel Messi run….
TEAM NEWS Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola could play the same XI that won 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu last week. Goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto replaces Victor Valdes – the 36-year-old understudy has played every cup match this season. David Villa is out with a broken leg, while Mali’s Seydou Keita is away at the African Cup of Nations. Jose Mourinho has said controversial Real defender Pepe will play if fit….
Pelé believes Lionel Messi still needs to improve at the international level before he can be considered the greatest soccer player ever, and needs to score more goals to come close to matching the Brazilian great. The 24-year-old Messi already has won three straight FIFA player of the year awards. “When Messi’s scored 1,283 goals like me, when he’s won three World Cups, we’ll talk about it,” Pelé told Le…
Lionel Messi has paid tribute to his Barcelona team-mates, saying they are the reason for his personal accolades. The Argentina international is considered a hot favourite to win the 2011 FIFA Ballon d’Or, having already won the prestigious award in 2009 and 2010.The 24-year-old is humble in the face of overwhelming praise, and has thanked the likes of Andres Iniesta and Xavi for getting him to where he is today….
Lionel Messi says he is still waiting for a DVD with highlights of Pele’s career that the Brazilian legend recently promised him. Pele said he would send footage of his best moments to Messi after the Argentine revealed he had never seen him in action, but the man widely regarded as the best player in the world is still awaiting the arrival of the package. “I would love to see…
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has voiced his amazement at the stunning level Lionel Messi manages to play at weekLionel Messi in and week out. Messi has been in sensational goal-scoring form for the Catalans yet again this season, although he was in the spotlight for the wrong reasons, for once, when he missed a penalty in stoppage time as Barcelona were held to a goalless draw against Sevilla last week….