INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL - FIFA WORLD CUP 2014 (JUNE)
FIFA WORLD CUP - Germany reach Qr final to beat Algeria in extra time.
01.07.2014 KFC. | www.kolkatafootball.com HOME PAGE | LIKE FB ||
01.07.2014 : GERMANY 2-1 (aet) ALGERIA
GER : Andre Schurrle 92', Mesut Ozil 120'
ALG : Abdelmoumene Djabou 120+1'
GER : Neuer, Mustafi, Boateng, Mertesacker, Howedes, Schweinsteiger, Lahm; Kroos, Ozil, Gotze, Muller.
ALG : Mbolhi, Ghoulam, Belkalem, Halliche, Mandi, Lacen, Soudani, Taider, Mostefa, Feghouli, Slimani.
PREVIEW - JAYDIP DASGUPTA and LALTU CHAKRABARTY : Being the champions of Group G Germany is now set to face a relatively easy hurdle of Algeria in the knockout round opener, at Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre on Monday. Germany won Against Portugal and USA but failed to cross the barrier of Ghana in the Group League stages.
On the contrary Algeria emerged as the second seeded team from Group H, but has yet to be seriously tested in the 2014 World Cup. They won against South Korea , drew against Russia in the Group stages, but lost the match against Belgium had scored seven goals in the tournament so far.
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STATS
PLAYER TO WATCH : Germany: Thomas Muller. Thomas Muller has scored nine goals in as many World Cup appearances - the same record as Pele after his first nine games in the tournament. This Bayern Munich sharpshooter has his eye on the quarter-finals, as well as a second consecutive Golden Boot.
Algeria: Islam Slimani. He has two crucial goals for Algeria. He currently shares the record of two with Salah Assad, who scored twice in 1982.
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Germany one of the favorites in the 2014 World Cup is on a target to proceed to the quarter finals. They have looked one of the strongest teams during the group stages and are among the group of teams that could go all the way. The Germans have been more efficient than prolific making sure they topped the Group.
The German Brigade are playing as a unit fortified with the individual brilliance of some world class footballers. It is expected that Jaikim Loe will opt for the same line up, but it is likely that the midfielder Lukas Podolski may be dropped from the line up due to his injury.The German up front will lead by Thomas Muller who has scored nine goals in his last nine World Cup matches.
Algeria, had nothing to loose against Germany on Monday evening. The Algerians are compact in defense and waits for the counter attacks. This is a completely different Algeria from the one, that played in the 2010 World Cup failed to score a single goal. Algeria have a talented footballers - Sofiane Feghouli, Islam Slimani, Yacine Brahimi, and Abdelmoumene Djabou, who could pose a threat to Germany.
The Algerian coach Vahid Halilhodzic while interacting with the media in the pre match meeting said, "When you see the Italy, England, Portugal and Spain already eliminated, it is exceptional to be in the 16 best teams. Now, Germany has the right to lose.
I said again that if in 1982 an Algerian team can beat a great team of Germany, then why can't we? If we lose, we will congratulate them because they will have been better and if we win everyone will appreciate this Algeria team a little more. Now, we are confident in our chances and we know we can make something if we are at our best. We will have to be up for the fight on Monday."
This is probably the most predictable match of the Round of 16. Germany is the absolute favorite which they confirmed in the group stage, ending as the first in the group and having lost no matches, although they were truly brilliant only in the first match. But Algeria is expecting to repeat the history of 1982, when the defeated Germany in the Group league stages.
FIFA WORLD CUP - France beat Nigeria to reach Qr.Final.
30.06.2014 KFC. | www.kolkatafootball.com HOME PAGE | LIKE FB ||
30.06.14: FRANCE 2-0 NIGERIA
FRA: Pogba 80', Joseph Yobo 90+2'
France: Lloris, Debuchy, Varane, Koscielny, Evra, Pogba, Cabaye, Matuidi, Valbuena, Giroud, Benzema
Nigeria: Enyeama, Yobo (c), Ambrose, Musa, Odemwingie, Emenike, Mikel, Moses, Oshaniwa, Onazi, Omeruo
Referee: Mark Geiger